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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,792 in Brรธndby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,997 in Brรธndby, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,201 in Brรธndby, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 69% cheaper than Brรธndby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Brรธndby is 108% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 เธฟ64.3
$23.64 DKKย 152
-91.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 เธฟ612
$115 DKKย 741
-83.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 เธฟ252
$13.81 DKKย 88.9
-43.88%
Cappuccino
$1.92 เธฟ62.5
$6.92 DKKย 44.59
-72.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 เธฟ25.79
$4.34 DKKย 27.98
-81.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 เธฟ11.62
$3.14 DKKย 20.22
-88.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 เธฟ72.1
$9.21 DKKย 59.3
-76.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 เธฟ119
$7.78 DKKย 50.1
-52.96%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 เธฟ53.8
$2.02 DKKย 13.02
-18.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 เธฟ53.2
$3.16 DKKย 20.38
-48.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ38.86
$3.33 DKKย 21.44
-64.26%
Eggs
$2.00 เธฟ65.1
$4.80 DKKย 30.94
-58.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 เธฟ520
$14.13 DKKย 91.0
13.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 เธฟ98.5
$10.68 DKKย 68.8
-71.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 เธฟ354
$15.71 DKKย 101
-30.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 เธฟ90.0
$3.33 DKKย 21.42
-17.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ38.42
$3.63 DKKย 23.38
-67.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ53.5
$3.68 DKKย 23.68
-55.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 เธฟ49.51
$5.47 DKKย 35.23
-72.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 เธฟ45.10
$2.63 DKKย 16.95
-47.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ38.84
$2.17 DKKย 13.97
-45.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 เธฟ22.86
$2.24 DKKย 14.42
-68.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ18.13
$1.70 DKKย 10.93
-67.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 เธฟ149
$9.90 DKKย 63.8
-53.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 เธฟ539
$10.28 DKKย 66.2
61.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 เธฟ59.5
$1.96 DKKย 12.66
-6.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ104
$2.05 DKKย 13.18
56.10%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 เธฟ28.56
$3.65 DKKย 23.51
-75.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 เธฟ610
$77.9 DKKย 502
-75.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ44.16
$7.92 DKKย 51.0
-82.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 เธฟ43.65
$1.70 DKKย 10.92
-21.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 เธฟ256
$62.5 DKKย 402
-87.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 เธฟ39.92
$2.21 DKKย 14.20
-44.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K เธฟ704.3K
$49.8K DKKย 321.1K
-56.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K เธฟ734.3K
$49.2K DKKย 317.1K
-54.20%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 เธฟ2,298
$199 DKKย 1,281
-64.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 เธฟ445
$20.21 DKKย 130
-32.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 เธฟ568
$42.30 DKKย 272
-58.75%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 เธฟ1,346
$41.22 DKKย 266
0.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 เธฟ227
$30.30 DKKย 195
-77.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 เธฟ188
$18.48 DKKย 119
-68.78%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 เธฟ10.0K
$633 DKKย 4,077
-51.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K เธฟ475.9K
$6,155 DKKย 39.6K
137.37%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 เธฟ1,817
$104 DKKย 669
-46.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 เธฟ854
$35.29 DKKย 227
-25.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 เธฟ2,793
$122 DKKย 787
-29.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 เธฟ2,353
$193 DKKย 1,240
-62.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 เธฟ14.0K
$915 DKKย 5,890
-53.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 เธฟ7,774
$1,338 DKKย 8,618
-82.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 เธฟ26.6K
$1,517 DKKย 9,770
-46.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 เธฟ16.6K
$1,802 DKKย 11.6K
-71.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 เธฟ64.6K
$4,790 DKKย 30.9K
-58.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 เธฟ48.3K
$3,408 DKKย 21.9K
-56.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Brรธndby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 เธฟ20.2K
$3,564 DKKย 23.0K
-82.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.19
19.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Brรธndby: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $915 in Brรธndby. 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 476% higher in Brรธndby, 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 $115 in Brรธndby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $384 โ€“ 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 Brรธndby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and Brรธndby compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai, $2,792 in Brรธndby โ€“ roughly 221% apart. Brรธndby costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Brรธndby?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,189 in Brรธndby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chiang Mai and Brรธndby?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Brรธndby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $115 in Brรธndby. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Brรธndby at $2,792. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brรธndby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Brรธndby?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Chiang Mai to $2,792 in Brรธndby. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Brรธndby safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Brรธndby?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brรธndby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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