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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,275 in Hengelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,458 in Hengelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,641 in Hengelo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 62% cheaper than Hengelo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Hengelo is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.6
$20.58 €17.73
-90.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$86.6 €74.6
-78.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿256
$13.85 €11.93
-43.54%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.9
$3.98 €3.43
-51.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.80
$4.08 €3.52
-79.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.60
$2.76 €2.37
-87.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.7
$6.91 €5.95
-69.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$5.88 €5.06
-36.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.26 €1.08
35.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.3
$2.23 €1.92
-26.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.18
$3.01 €2.60
-62.13%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.2
$4.55 €3.91
-57.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$14.18 €12.21
14.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$15.20 €13.09
-79.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$17.09 €14.72
-36.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$2.44 €2.10
12.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.56
$2.54 €2.18
-52.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$2.02 €1.74
-19.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.9
$3.88 €3.35
-59.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.75
$1.95 €1.68
-28.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.20
$1.94 €1.67
-39.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.62
$1.23 €1.06
-46.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.24
$0.73 €0.63
-27.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$14.03 €12.08
-66.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿610
$7.29 €6.28
155.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.43 €1.23
25.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.64 €2.27
22.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.28
$5.29 €4.55
-82.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$94.0 €80.9
-79.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.96
$3.59 €3.09
-60.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.16
$2.41 €2.07
-46.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$27.15 €23.37
-71.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.62
$2.33 €2.01
-45.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿695.5K
$33.8K €29.1K
-36.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿726.1K
$35.6K €30.7K
-37.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,258
$286 €246
-75.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$26.69 €22.98
-47.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$47.43 €40.84
-62.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,342
$30.79 €26.51
33.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$23.49 €20.22
-70.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$16.11 €13.87
-63.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,775
$1,096 €943
-72.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.8K
$11.2K €9,607
34.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,788
$113 €97.1
-51.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿875
$45.95 €39.57
-41.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,778
$100 €86.3
-15.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,308
$130 €112
-45.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$1,366 €1,176
-68.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,759
$849 €731
-72.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$1,888 €1,626
-57.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.9K
$1,515 €1,305
-65.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$5,767 €4,966
-65.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$4,723 €4,067
-68.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hengelo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$2,776 €2,391
-77.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.39
13.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hengelo: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,366 in Hengelo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 350% higher in Hengelo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $87.0 in Hengelo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $340 – 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 Hengelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hengelo?
Hengelo costs about 163% 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 Hengelo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,413 in Hengelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hengelo?
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 Hengelo?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,096 in Hengelo. 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 Hengelo?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Hengelo, 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 Hengelo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Hengelo at $2,275. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hengelo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Hengelo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,275 in Hengelo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hengelo?
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 Hengelo?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hengelo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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