Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Billund Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Billund

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,428 in Billund, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,389 in Billund, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,350 in Billund, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Billund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Billund is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.2
$22.19 DKK 145
-90.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿652
$124 DKK 811
-84.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$13.84 DKK 90.2
-59.03%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.0
$5.85 DKK 38.11
-69.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.55
$3.73 DKK 24.27
-79.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.48
$3.26 DKK 21.22
-89.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.6
$9.38 DKK 61.1
-76.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$6.86 DKK 44.71
-44.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$2.25 DKK 14.65
-8.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$3.37 DKK 21.95
-55.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.51
$2.98 DKK 19.39
-53.02%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$4.51 DKK 29.37
-49.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿538
$14.37 DKK 93.6
12.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.3
$12.94 DKK 84.3
-77.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$17.47 DKK 114
-46.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$3.60 DKK 23.45
-25.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$3.37 DKK 21.98
-67.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$3.45 DKK 22.49
-53.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.55
$3.76 DKK 24.46
-61.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.48
$2.20 DKK 14.30
-41.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.17
$2.10 DKK 13.70
-49.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.85
$2.28 DKK 14.85
-68.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.49
$1.40 DKK 9.11
-62.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$9.86 DKK 64.3
-57.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿608
$10.30 DKK 67.1
77.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$1.80 DKK 11.74
-9.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$2.35 DKK 15.34
23.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.20
$4.69 DKK 30.54
-81.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,788
$84.6 DKK 551
-36.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿38.99
$6.05 DKK 39.42
-80.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.22
$1.68 DKK 10.95
-65.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.3
$92.1 DKK 600
-97.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.22
$2.34 DKK 15.23
-38.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿698.6K
$46.9K DKK 305.6K
-55.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿878.6K
$46.5K DKK 302.7K
-43.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,116
$190 DKK 1,240
-66.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$12.33 DKK 80.3
4.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿682
$39.14 DKK 255
-47.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,297
$30.36 DKK 198
28.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
$12.60 DKK 82.1
-68.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$15.22 DKK 99.1
-56.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$986 DKK 6,422
-20.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿487.9K
$8,696 DKK 56.7K
68.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,833
$108 DKK 706
-49.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$56.4 DKK 367
-56.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,130
$133 DKK 866
-29.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,459
$207 DKK 1,352
-64.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,582
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Billund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
$4,452 DKK 29.0K
-86.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.81
46.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Billund: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 640% higher in Billund, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Billund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $388 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Chiang Mai vs Billund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Billund cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Billund is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,142 in Billund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai and in Billund?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $1,428 in Billund. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Billund?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Billund at $1,428. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Billund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiang Mai or Billund more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Billund?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Billund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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