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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,819 in Hรคrnรถsand, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,783 in Hรคrnรถsand, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,747 in Hรคrnรถsand, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Hรคrnรถsand, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Hรคrnรถsand is 36% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 เธฟ63.6
$13.64 SEKย 128
-85.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39 เธฟ598
$73.0 SEKย 683
-74.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 เธฟ256
$10.43 SEKย 97.6
-24.54%
Cappuccino
$1.95 เธฟ63.4
$4.59 SEKย 42.98
-57.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 เธฟ27.57
$2.68 SEKย 25.06
-68.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 เธฟ10.52
$2.50 SEKย 23.41
-87.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 เธฟ69.6
$7.82 SEKย 73.2
-72.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 เธฟ120
$7.43 SEKย 69.5
-50.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 เธฟ53.9
$1.59 SEKย 14.90
4.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 เธฟ50.7
$2.88 SEKย 26.99
-45.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ38.63
$3.82 SEKย 35.76
-68.85%
Eggs
$1.99 เธฟ64.7
$4.02 SEKย 37.57
-50.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 เธฟ528
$12.17 SEKย 114
33.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 เธฟ103
$11.86 SEKย 111
-73.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 เธฟ352
$17.20 SEKย 161
-36.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 เธฟ86.2
$3.15 SEKย 29.48
-15.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 เธฟ39.67
$2.67 SEKย 24.98
-54.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 เธฟ53.7
$3.07 SEKย 28.73
-46.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 เธฟ50.3
$4.36 SEKย 40.82
-64.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 เธฟ43.17
$1.64 SEKย 15.37
-18.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 เธฟ39.43
$1.86 SEKย 17.40
-34.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 เธฟ22.04
$2.54 SEKย 23.77
-73.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 เธฟ18.38
$1.57 SEKย 14.73
-63.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 เธฟ152
$7.25 SEKย 67.8
-35.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 เธฟ552
$9.64 SEKย 90.1
76.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 เธฟ59.3
$1.97 SEKย 18.46
-7.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 เธฟ103
$1.91 SEKย 17.84
66.49%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 เธฟ29.46
$3.34 SEKย 31.22
-72.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.74 เธฟ609
$74.4 SEKย 696
-74.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 เธฟ45.80
$6.30 SEKย 58.9
-77.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 เธฟ43.52
$1.66 SEKย 15.55
-19.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 เธฟ265
$61.7 SEKย 577
-86.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 เธฟ41.53
$1.98 SEKย 18.54
-35.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K เธฟ709.3K
$32.5K SEKย 304.5K
-32.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K เธฟ728.0K
$33.8K SEKย 316.1K
-33.72%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 เธฟ2,291
$114 SEKย 1,071
-38.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05 เธฟ457
$28.30 SEKย 265
-50.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 เธฟ574
$35.97 SEKย 336
-50.93%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 เธฟ1,342
$40.65 SEKย 380
1.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 เธฟ220
$25.52 SEKย 239
-73.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96 เธฟ194
$16.10 SEKย 151
-62.98%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 เธฟ9,846
$145 SEKย 1,359
108.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K เธฟ486.2K
$4,099 SEKย 38.3K
264.91%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 เธฟ1,778
$95.9 SEKย 897
-42.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29 เธฟ854
$40.18 SEKย 376
-34.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 เธฟ2,788
$97.2 SEKย 909
-11.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 เธฟ2,265
$153 SEKย 1,434
-54.55%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 เธฟ13.9K
$828 SEKย 7,749
-48.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 เธฟ7,769
$659 SEKย 6,164
-63.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ26.4K
$1,374 SEKย 12.9K
-40.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 เธฟ16.6K
$1,078 SEKย 10.1K
-52.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,025 เธฟ65.8K
$3,921 SEKย 36.7K
-48.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,502 เธฟ48.8K
$3,332 SEKย 31.2K
-54.93%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 เธฟ20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.53
10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Hรคrnรถsand: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $828 in Hรคrnรถsand. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $73.0 in Hรคrnรถsand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $360 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 Hรคrnรถsand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hรคrnรถsand?
Hรคrnรถsand costs about 115% 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 Hรคrnรถsand?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,729 in Hรคrnรถsand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hรคrnรถsand?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Hรคrnรถsand?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $145 in Hรคrnรถsand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Hรคrnรถsand?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Hรคrnรถsand, 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Hรคrnรถsand?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Hรคrnรถsand at $1,819. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hรคrnรถsand it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Hรคrnรถsand?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,819 in Hรคrnรถsand. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hรคrnรถsand?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Hรคrnรถsand?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hรคrnรถsand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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