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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,977 in Herning, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,355 in Herning, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,734 in Herning, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Herning, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Herning is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿70.6
$22.98 DKK 153
-90.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.22 ฿645
$107 DKK 711
-82.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿184
$13.70 DKK 91.0
-60.07%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ฿56.6
$5.82 DKK 38.63
-70.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.71
$3.49 DKK 23.18
-81.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$3.38 DKK 22.46
-90.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.8
$8.42 DKK 56.0
-72.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 ฿131
$7.57 DKK 50.3
-48.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 ฿69.3
$2.00 DKK 13.28
3.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ฿51.4
$3.93 DKK 26.10
-61.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 ฿41.93
$2.89 DKK 19.17
-56.75%
Eggs
$2.19 ฿73.6
$5.40 DKK 35.89
-59.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿535
$7.79 DKK 51.7
104.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.7
$12.63 DKK 83.9
-78.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 ฿327
$21.45 DKK 142
-54.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 ฿89.1
$3.48 DKK 23.14
-23.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 ฿35.32
$3.23 DKK 21.44
-67.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.6
$4.28 DKK 28.43
-61.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ฿49.49
$5.92 DKK 39.32
-75.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ฿40.73
$1.86 DKK 12.37
-34.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.95
$1.85 DKK 12.28
-40.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.50
$1.64 DKK 10.88
-53.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.66
$1.43 DKK 9.50
-65.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$9.33 DKK 62.0
-53.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.50 ฿587
$10.83 DKK 71.9
61.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 ฿55.7
$1.72 DKK 11.42
-3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.2
$2.44 DKK 16.20
13.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.88
$3.77 DKK 25.05
-77.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.7 ฿1,803
$106 DKK 706
-49.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.87
$6.02 DKK 40.00
-79.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.80
$1.69 DKK 11.23
-66.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 ฿78.6
$91.6 DKK 609
-97.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$2.22 DKK 14.76
-34.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿706.4K
$50.8K DKK 337.2K
-58.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.3K
$52.8K DKK 350.9K
-50.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.6 ฿2,133
$189 DKK 1,256
-66.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.56 ฿422
$10.46 DKK 69.5
20.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.04 ฿672
$39.50 DKK 262
-49.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.73 ฿1,299
$41.77 DKK 277
-7.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.80 ฿127
$26.41 DKK 175
-85.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 ฿217
$20.91 DKK 139
-69.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$777 ฿26.1K
$557 DKK 3,699
39.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿489.1K
$5,977 DKK 39.7K
143.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 ฿1,853
$99.7 DKK 662
-44.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.77 ฿831
$42.32 DKK 281
-41.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 ฿3,029
$130 DKK 861
-30.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,467
$160 DKK 1,064
-54.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ฿15.6K
$747 DKK 4,964
-37.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 ฿9,601
$533 DKK 3,542
-46.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$866 ฿29.0K
$1,687 DKK 11.2K
-48.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$525 ฿17.6K
$1,422 DKK 9,446
-63.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,978 ฿66.4K
$4,663 DKK 31.0K
-57.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,461 ฿49.0K
$3,519 DKK 23.4K
-58.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$581 ฿19.5K
$4,524 DKK 30.0K
-87.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.63
53.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

Last update for Herning: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Chiang Mai versus $747 in Herning. 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 679% higher in Herning, 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 $107 in Herning. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $395 – 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 Herning: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Herning?
Herning costs about 114% 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 and in Herning?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,965 in Herning. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Herning?
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 in Herning?
Kindergarten costs $777 per month in Chiang Mai and $557 in Herning. 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 in Herning?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Herning, 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 in Herning?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $926, than in Herning at $1,977. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Herning it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Herning?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $926 versus $1,977 in Herning. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Herning?
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 to Herning?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Herning makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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