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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,627 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,850 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,074 in Hella, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 48% cheaper than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Hella is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$26.50 ISK 3,276

-92.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$147 ISK 18.2K

-87.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$22.27 ISK 2,753

-64.71%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$6.01 ISK 743

-66.22%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$3.26 ISK 403

-75.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$2.52 ISK 312

-86.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$12.63 ISK 1,561

-83.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$11.04 ISK 1,365

-66.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.94 ISK 240

-10.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$4.30 ISK 532

-63.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$3.74 ISK 462

-67.91%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$6.40 ISK 791

-69.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$18.20 ISK 2,250

-10.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$24.23 ISK 2,995

-87.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$41.93 ISK 5,183

-74.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.22 ISK 398

-13.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.54 ISK 314

-53.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.04 ISK 375

-43.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$4.95 ISK 612

-67.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$3.55 ISK 439

-60.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$2.31 ISK 286

-49.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$3.13 ISK 387

-78.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.95 ISK 241

-73.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$13.41 ISK 1,658

-65.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$22.81 ISK 2,820

-22.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$3.55 ISK 439

-49.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.36 ISK 416

-0.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$6.49 ISK 803

-78.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.61 ISK 323

-48.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$84.9 ISK 10.5K

-90.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.47 ISK 305

-50.20%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$48.2K ISK 6.0M

-55.51%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

-58.55%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$88.7 ISK 11.0K

-19.57%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$27.34 ISK 3,380

-48.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$83.8 ISK 10.4K

-78.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$17.86 ISK 2,208

-67.97%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$317 ISK 39.1K

-2.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

-51.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$140 ISK 17.4K

-60.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$62.7 ISK 7,748

-58.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$181 ISK 22.4K

-53.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$261 ISK 32.2K

-72.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

-48.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Hella: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $147 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $594 – 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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hella costs about 91% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,440 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $147 in Hella. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 143% more in Hella, 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 Hella at $1,627. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hella it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,627 in Hella. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Hella makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.