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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,862 in Billund, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,128 in Billund, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,394 in Billund, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 54% cheaper than Billund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Billund is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$22.73 DKK 147

-91.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$124 DKK 802

-84.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$14.54 DKK 94.1

-45.94%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$5.30 DKK 34.34

-61.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ฿26.64

$3.41 DKK 22.10

-76.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$3.22 DKK 20.84

-89.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$9.19 DKK 59.5

-76.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$6.87 DKK 44.47

-46.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.08 DKK 13.44

-16.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$3.39 DKK 21.93

-53.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.95 DKK 19.12

-59.32%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$4.18 DKK 27.05

-52.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$15.31 DKK 99.2

6.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$12.27 DKK 79.4

-75.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$17.27 DKK 112

-37.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.32 DKK 21.47

-16.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$3.54 DKK 22.90

-66.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.44 DKK 22.26

-50.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$4.59 DKK 29.71

-65.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$2.26 DKK 14.66

-38.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$2.12 DKK 13.75

-45.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$2.23 DKK 14.44

-70.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.63 DKK 10.56

-68.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$10.12 DKK 65.5

-54.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$10.03 DKK 65.0

77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.71 DKK 11.08

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.38 DKK 15.40

40.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$4.19 DKK 27.12

-78.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$65.7 DKK 425

-71.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$7.73 DKK 50.1

-81.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.02 DKK 13.10

-33.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$91.3 DKK 591

-91.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.28 DKK 14.77

-46.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$46.6K DKK 301.7K

-54.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$45.7K DKK 296.1K

-52.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$71.3 ฿2,379

$139 DKK 899

-48.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.01 ฿467

$17.65 DKK 114

-20.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$17.10 DKK 111

4.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$35.84 DKK 232

13.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$12.65 DKK 81.9

-45.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$15.73 DKK 102

-63.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$308 ฿10.3K

$607 DKK 3,929

-49.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$16.2K DKK 104.6K

-9.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$35.05 DKK 227

59.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$52.4 DKK 339

-50.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$140 DKK 906

-39.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$116 DKK 752

-38.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$812 DKK 5,255

-47.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$573 DKK 3,710

-57.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$1,590 DKK 10.3K

-49.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$1,139 DKK 7,377

-55.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$4,243 DKK 27.5K

-85.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.19

19.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Billund: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $812 in Billund. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 613% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $124 in Billund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $390 – 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

Yes – Billund is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,793 in Billund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $1,862 in Billund. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 252% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Billund at $1,862. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Billund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.