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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,963 in Birkerød, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,914 in Birkerød, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,865 in Birkerød, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 56% cheaper than Birkerød, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Birkerød is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$11.52 DKK 74.2

-82.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$52.7 DKK 339

-64.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$11.89 DKK 76.6

-34.82%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.53 DKK 29.19

-57.62%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$3.74 DKK 24.09

-78.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.73 DKK 17.55

-86.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$6.36 DKK 40.97

-65.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.81 DKK 24.52

-3.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.97 DKK 12.69

-16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.03 DKK 19.49

-46.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.07 DKK 13.33

-42.51%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$5.28 DKK 33.98

-62.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$8.76 DKK 56.5

82.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.51 DKK 48.39

-59.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$13.70 DKK 88.3

-20.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.27 DKK 21.07

-15.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.52 DKK 16.23

-53.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.74 DKK 24.07

-56.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.37 DKK 15.24

-35.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.98 DKK 12.74

-30.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.13 DKK 13.69

-44.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.24 DKK 14.46

-68.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.07 DKK 6.89

-47.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$10.27 DKK 66.2

-55.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$11.68 DKK 75.2

41.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.81 DKK 11.67

1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$0.81 DKK 5.19

295.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$3.77 DKK 24.27

-76.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$78.3 DKK 504

-76.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$7.74 DKK 49.85

-82.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.65 DKK 10.63

-18.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$109 DKK 699

-92.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.25 DKK 14.50

-45.33%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$50.5K DKK 325.0K

-57.14%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$51.0K DKK 328.2K

-55.76%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$199 DKK 1,282

-64.55%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.32 DKK 112

-21.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$42.53 DKK 274

-58.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$42.28 DKK 272

-2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$29.34 DKK 189

-76.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$19.87 DKK 128

-70.96%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$596 DKK 3,838

-48.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,964 DKK 38.4K

144.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$128 DKK 827

-56.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$53.7 DKK 346

-51.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$141 DKK 909

-39.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$192 DKK 1,235

-62.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$923 DKK 5,943

-53.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$698 DKK 4,493

-65.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,546 DKK 9,959

-47.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,164 DKK 7,497

-56.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$5,242 DKK 33.8K

-62.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$3,754 DKK 24.2K

-60.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Birkerød: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $923 in Birkerød. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Birkerød. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $309 – 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 Birkerød: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $1,963 in Birkerød – roughly 126% apart. Birkerød costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,944 in Birkerød. 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $1,963 in Birkerød. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 318% 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 $869, than in Birkerød at $1,963. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Birkerød it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $1,963 in Birkerød. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Birkerød makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.