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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,619 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,788 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,958 in Hella, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 46% cheaper than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Hella is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$27.32 ISK 3,401

-92.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$144 ISK 18.0K

-86.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$22.68 ISK 2,823

-65.83%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$6.15 ISK 765

-68.78%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$3.35 ISK 417

-76.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.54 ISK 316

-85.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$12.72 ISK 1,583

-82.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$11.15 ISK 1,388

-67.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.93 ISK 241

-14.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$4.19 ISK 522

-61.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$3.67 ISK 457

-67.57%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$6.31 ISK 786

-68.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$18.19 ISK 2,265

-12.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$24.53 ISK 3,053

-87.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$41.71 ISK 5,193

-73.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.36 ISK 418

-17.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.51 ISK 312

-52.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.04 ISK 378

-46.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$4.91 ISK 611

-69.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$3.69 ISK 459

-62.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.42 ISK 301

-50.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$3.19 ISK 397

-78.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.99 ISK 247

-71.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$13.60 ISK 1,693

-66.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$23.47 ISK 2,922

-29.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$3.72 ISK 463

-50.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$3.34 ISK 415

-4.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$6.24 ISK 777

-78.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.66 ISK 331

-49.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

-90.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.43 ISK 302

-49.38%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

-54.48%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

-56.06%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

-21.05%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$27.68 ISK 3,446

-50.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

-79.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$17.43 ISK 2,170

-66.90%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$316 ISK 39.4K

-2.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

-51.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$141 ISK 17.5K

-60.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$61.1 ISK 7,609

-57.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$186 ISK 23.1K

-53.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$271 ISK 33.8K

-73.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Hella: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $144 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $597 – 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 86% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,428 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 $144 in Hella. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 148% 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 $869, than in Hella at $1,619. 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 $869 versus $1,619 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.