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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,101 in Hellerup, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,112 in Hellerup, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,124 in Hellerup, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Hellerup, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Hellerup is 57% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.0
$23.10 DKK 147
-91.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 ฿615
$115 DKK 734
-83.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿259
$13.87 DKK 88.5
-42.90%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿62.6
$6.98 DKK 44.52
-72.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.41
$4.26 DKK 27.16
-80.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.51
$3.09 DKK 19.69
-88.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$9.12 DKK 58.2
-75.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿124
$7.67 DKK 48.91
-50.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.99 DKK 12.72
-17.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿53.1
$3.25 DKK 20.72
-50.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.62
$2.49 DKK 15.86
-52.61%
Eggs
$2.01 ฿65.8
$4.94 DKK 31.53
-59.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 ฿520
$13.71 DKK 87.5
15.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.5
$10.92 DKK 69.7
-72.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 ฿352
$16.13 DKK 103
-33.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ฿85.5
$3.09 DKK 19.70
-15.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.88
$3.32 DKK 21.19
-63.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.7
$3.60 DKK 22.99
-52.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿51.5
$5.60 DKK 35.75
-71.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.14
$2.36 DKK 15.03
-44.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.23
$1.77 DKK 11.31
-33.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.98
$2.30 DKK 14.70
-70.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$1.01 DKK 6.43
-44.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿148
$10.08 DKK 64.3
-55.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 ฿595
$10.40 DKK 66.3
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.0
$1.79 DKK 11.41
2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.11 DKK 13.49
53.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿29.00
$3.80 DKK 24.25
-76.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 ฿634
$63.9 DKK 408
-69.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿44.20
$7.96 DKK 50.8
-83.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿44.05
$2.15 DKK 13.72
-37.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ฿270
$61.7 DKK 394
-86.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.64
$2.31 DKK 14.71
-45.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿691.8K
$48.1K DKK 307.0K
-56.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿735.3K
$48.9K DKK 311.7K
-53.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,294
$197 DKK 1,256
-64.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿450
$17.53 DKK 112
-21.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ฿575
$41.95 DKK 268
-58.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 ฿1,360
$51.7 DKK 330
-19.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 ฿216
$34.76 DKK 222
-81.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿189
$20.01 DKK 128
-71.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿10.0K
$597 DKK 3,809
-48.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿484.8K
$5,975 DKK 38.1K
148.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ฿1,778
$102 DKK 648
-46.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 ฿855
$35.29 DKK 225
-25.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,764
$123 DKK 782
-31.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 ฿2,270
$193 DKK 1,232
-64.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 ฿13.9K
$922 DKK 5,880
-54.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ฿7,788
$704 DKK 4,489
-66.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.0K
$1,523 DKK 9,714
-45.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$2,847 DKK 18.2K
-81.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 ฿67.0K
$5,022 DKK 32.0K
-59.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 ฿49.8K
$3,207 DKK 20.5K
-52.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hellerup
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 ฿20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.19
19.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Hellerup: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $922 in Hellerup. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $115 in Hellerup. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $370 – 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 Hellerup: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hellerup?
Hellerup costs about 147% 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 Hellerup?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,151 in Hellerup. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hellerup?
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 Hellerup?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $597 in Hellerup. 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 Hellerup?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Hellerup, 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 Hellerup?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Hellerup at $2,101. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hellerup it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Hellerup?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,101 in Hellerup. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hellerup?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Hellerup?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hellerup makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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