๐A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,819 in Hรคrnรถsand, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,783 in Hรคrnรถsand, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,747 in Hรคrnรถsand, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Hรคrnรถsand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Hรคrnรถsand is 36% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96เธฟ63.6
$13.64SEKย 128
-85.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39เธฟ598
$73.0SEKย 683
-74.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87เธฟ256
$10.43SEKย 97.6
-24.54%
Cappuccino
$1.95เธฟ63.4
$4.59SEKย 42.98
-57.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85เธฟ27.57
$2.68SEKย 25.06
-68.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32เธฟ10.52
$2.50SEKย 23.41
-87.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14เธฟ69.6
$7.82SEKย 73.2
-72.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68เธฟ120
$7.43SEKย 69.5
-50.47%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66เธฟ53.9
$1.59SEKย 14.90
4.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56เธฟ50.7
$2.88SEKย 26.99
-45.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19เธฟ38.63
$3.82SEKย 35.76
-68.85%
Eggs
$1.99เธฟ64.7
$4.02SEKย 37.57
-50.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24เธฟ528
$12.17SEKย 114
33.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17เธฟ103
$11.86SEKย 111
-73.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84เธฟ352
$17.20SEKย 161
-36.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65เธฟ86.2
$3.15SEKย 29.48
-15.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22เธฟ39.67
$2.67SEKย 24.98
-54.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65เธฟ53.7
$3.07SEKย 28.73
-46.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55เธฟ50.3
$4.36SEKย 40.82
-64.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33เธฟ43.17
$1.64SEKย 15.37
-18.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21เธฟ39.43
$1.86SEKย 17.40
-34.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68เธฟ22.04
$2.54SEKย 23.77
-73.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57เธฟ18.38
$1.57SEKย 14.73
-63.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68เธฟ152
$7.25SEKย 67.8
-35.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99เธฟ552
$9.64SEKย 90.1
76.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82เธฟ59.3
$1.97SEKย 18.46
-7.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18เธฟ103
$1.91SEKย 17.84
66.49%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91เธฟ29.46
$3.34SEKย 31.22
-72.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74เธฟ609
$74.4SEKย 696
-74.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.80
$6.30SEKย 58.9
-77.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34เธฟ43.52
$1.66SEKย 15.55
-19.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14เธฟ265
$61.7SEKย 577
-86.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28เธฟ41.53
$1.98SEKย 18.54
-35.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8Kเธฟ709.3K
$32.5KSEKย 304.5K
-32.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4Kเธฟ728.0K
$33.8KSEKย 316.1K
-33.72%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5เธฟ2,291
$114SEKย 1,071
-38.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05เธฟ457
$28.30SEKย 265
-50.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65เธฟ574
$35.97SEKย 336
-50.93%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29เธฟ1,342
$40.65SEKย 380
1.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76เธฟ220
$25.52SEKย 239
-73.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96เธฟ194
$16.10SEKย 151
-62.98%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303เธฟ9,846
$145SEKย 1,359
108.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kเธฟ486.2K
$4,099SEKย 38.3K
264.91%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7เธฟ1,778
$95.9SEKย 897
-42.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29เธฟ854
$40.18SEKย 376
-34.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8เธฟ2,788
$97.2SEKย 909
-11.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7เธฟ2,265
$153SEKย 1,434
-54.55%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428เธฟ13.9K
$828SEKย 7,749
-48.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239เธฟ7,769
$659SEKย 6,164
-63.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811เธฟ26.4K
$1,374SEKย 12.9K
-40.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510เธฟ16.6K
$1,078SEKย 10.1K
-52.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025เธฟ65.8K
$3,921SEKย 36.7K
-48.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502เธฟ48.8K
$3,332SEKย 31.2K
-54.93%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hรคrnรถsand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623เธฟ20.2K
-
-
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
๐ 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.
๐A 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared