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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,097 in Brabrand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,309 in Brabrand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,522 in Brabrand, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Brabrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Brabrand is 58% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$23.41 DKK 152

-91.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$115 DKK 746

-83.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$13.78 DKK 89.2

-42.96%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$6.89 DKK 44.58

-70.54%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$4.26 DKK 27.60

-81.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$3.15 DKK 20.39

-88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$9.29 DKK 60.2

-76.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$7.86 DKK 50.9

-53.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.08 DKK 13.47

-16.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$3.30 DKK 21.39

-52.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.48 DKK 16.03

-51.61%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$4.98 DKK 32.24

-60.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$13.47 DKK 87.2

20.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$10.61 DKK 68.7

-71.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$15.72 DKK 102

-31.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.03 DKK 19.59

-8.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$3.37 DKK 21.79

-65.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.59 DKK 23.25

-52.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$5.62 DKK 36.41

-71.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$2.38 DKK 15.44

-41.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.81 DKK 11.73

-35.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$2.33 DKK 15.09

-71.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.77 DKK 4.99

-32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$10.29 DKK 66.6

-54.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$10.48 DKK 67.9

69.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.73 DKK 11.20

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.08 DKK 13.49

60.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$3.67 DKK 23.79

-75.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$78.6 DKK 509

-76.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$7.64 DKK 49.46

-81.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.70 DKK 10.98

-21.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$61.1 DKK 395

-86.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.13 DKK 13.80

-42.25%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$48.1K DKK 311.4K

-55.43%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$48.9K DKK 316.9K

-55.40%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$202 DKK 1,305

-64.60%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.26 DKK 112

-18.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$42.13 DKK 273

-57.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$40.68 DKK 263

0.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$30.41 DKK 197

-77.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$18.66 DKK 121

-69.35%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$596 DKK 3,858

-48.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$5,903 DKK 38.2K

148.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$103 DKK 666

-45.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$35.25 DKK 228

-26.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$120 DKK 777

-29.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$196 DKK 1,269

-63.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$915 DKK 5,925

-53.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$704 DKK 4,559

-65.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$1,545 DKK 10.0K

-48.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$1,167 DKK 7,559

-56.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$4,964 DKK 32.1K

-61.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$3,077 DKK 19.9K

-52.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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 Brabrand: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $915 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 $115 in Brabrand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $365 – 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 146%, 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 $3,145 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $596 in Brabrand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $852, than in Brabrand at $2,097. 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.