ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,071 in Haapsalu, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,676 in Haapsalu, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,282 in Haapsalu, rent included.
ðChiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Haapsalu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Haapsalu are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Haapsalu20% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$17.12âŽ14.66
-88.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$70.8âŽ60.6
-73.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$9.87âŽ8.44
-19.76%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$3.65âŽ3.12
-47.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$2.47âŽ2.12
-65.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$2.74âŽ2.35
-87.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$5.36âŽ4.59
-58.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$5.65âŽ4.84
-32.74%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$1.30âŽ1.12
26.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$1.49âŽ1.28
8.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$2.29âŽ1.96
-48.47%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$2.84âŽ2.43
-29.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$12.51âŽ10.71
27.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$8.56âŽ7.33
-64.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$11.30âŽ9.67
-4.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$1.92âŽ1.64
35.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$1.57âŽ1.34
-22.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$1.95âŽ1.67
-12.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$2.35âŽ2.01
-32.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$1.01âŽ0.86
30.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.62âŽ0.53
88.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$1.79âŽ1.53
-62.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$1.06âŽ0.90
-47.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$6.44âŽ5.51
-29.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$10.79âŽ9.24
68.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$1.95âŽ1.67
-6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$2.10âŽ1.80
53.81%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$3.35âŽ2.87
-59.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.73âŽ0.63
84.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$20.09âŽ17.20
-58.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.88âŽ1.61
-32.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$22.9KâŽ19.6K
-7.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$22.7KâŽ19.5K
-1.05%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$274âŽ234
-74.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$22.43âŽ19.20
-38.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$36.34âŽ31.11
-51.57%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$31.85âŽ27.27
-79.28%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$11.72âŽ10.03
-50.68%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$117âŽ100
161.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$8,047âŽ6,888
84.24%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$120âŽ103
-54.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$38.80âŽ33.21
-32.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$97.6âŽ83.6
-13.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$96.3âŽ82.5
-27.92%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$1,876âŽ1,606
9.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$1,534âŽ1,313
-0.75%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Haapsalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
$1,485âŽ1,271
-57.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
2
150.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Haapsalu: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð°Salaries run about 134% higher in Haapsalu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $71.0 in Haapsalu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $261 â 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 Haapsalu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Haapsalu?
Haapsalu costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Haapsalu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,607 in Haapsalu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Haapsalu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $71.0 in Haapsalu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Haapsalu?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Haapsalu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Haapsalu?
$800 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $1,071 in Haapsalu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Haapsalu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,071 in Haapsalu. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Haapsalu?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Haapsalu?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haapsalu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared