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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,087 in Brabrand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,306 in Brabrand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,525 in Brabrand, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 58% cheaper than Brabrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Brabrand is 55% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$22.84 DKK 147

-91.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$118 DKK 759

-84.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$13.73 DKK 88.4

-43.55%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$6.74 DKK 43.44

-71.51%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$4.36 DKK 28.07

-81.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$3.09 DKK 19.91

-88.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$9.58 DKK 61.7

-76.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$7.90 DKK 50.9

-53.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.99 DKK 12.81

-17.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.18 DKK 20.47

-48.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.47 DKK 15.92

-51.82%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$4.96 DKK 31.93

-59.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.72 DKK 88.4

16.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$10.91 DKK 70.3

-72.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$16.07 DKK 104

-32.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.98 DKK 19.20

-7.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$3.32 DKK 21.37

-64.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.60 DKK 23.21

-54.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$5.56 DKK 35.80

-72.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.34 DKK 15.09

-41.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.74 DKK 11.23

-31.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.26 DKK 14.58

-69.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.80 DKK 5.14

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$9.94 DKK 64.1

-53.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.58 DKK 68.2

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.78 DKK 11.43

2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.15 DKK 13.84

48.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$3.79 DKK 24.41

-76.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$77.8 DKK 501

-75.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$7.73 DKK 49.81

-82.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.67 DKK 10.78

-19.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$60.2 DKK 388

-86.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.17 DKK 14.00

-43.32%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$49.3K DKK 317.5K

-56.14%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$49.2K DKK 316.9K

-54.18%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$201 DKK 1,297

-64.98%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.74 DKK 114

-22.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$41.79 DKK 269

-58.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$40.65 DKK 262

1.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$29.87 DKK 192

-76.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$18.60 DKK 120

-68.98%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$594 DKK 3,827

-48.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,889 DKK 37.9K

148.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$103 DKK 661

-45.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$35.13 DKK 226

-25.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$119 DKK 763

-27.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$194 DKK 1,250

-62.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$937 DKK 6,032

-54.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$709 DKK 4,569

-66.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,556 DKK 10.0K

-47.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,193 DKK 7,682

-57.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$5,244 DKK 33.8K

-62.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$3,276 DKK 21.1K

-54.70%

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 Brabrand: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $937 in Brabrand. 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 $118 in Brabrand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $366 – 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 Brabrand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Brabrand is pricier by about 140%, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,131 in Brabrand. 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.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $594 in Brabrand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Brabrand, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Brabrand at $2,087. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brabrand 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, Brabrand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.