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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,932 in Herning, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,377 in Herning, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,821 in Herning, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 55% cheaper than Herning, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Herning is 44% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$22.93 DKK 147
-91.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$110 DKK 706
-83.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$13.94 DKK 89.7
-43.90%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$5.88 DKK 37.79
-66.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$3.67 DKK 23.58
-76.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$3.37 DKK 21.67
-89.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$8.67 DKK 55.8
-75.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$7.98 DKK 51.3
-53.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.87 DKK 12.04
-8.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$4.03 DKK 25.88
-59.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$2.91 DKK 18.73
-60.82%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$5.52 DKK 35.52
-65.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$7.52 DKK 48.34
115.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$12.36 DKK 79.5
-74.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$16.82 DKK 108
-35.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$3.24 DKK 20.80
-15.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$3.50 DKK 22.50
-65.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$3.57 DKK 22.97
-54.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$5.56 DKK 35.74
-71.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$2.45 DKK 15.78
-42.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$2.04 DKK 13.12
-42.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$2.35 DKK 15.09
-71.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$1.63 DKK 10.46
-67.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$9.28 DKK 59.7
-49.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$11.04 DKK 71.0
69.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.81 DKK 11.63
-0.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.39 DKK 15.36
35.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$3.66 DKK 23.51
-75.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$77.6 DKK 499
-75.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$7.61 DKK 48.92
-81.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$2.12 DKK 13.61
-39.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$109 DKK 701
-92.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$2.29 DKK 14.74
-44.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$46.5K DKK 299.3K
-54.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$51.8K DKK 333.2K
-57.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$197 DKK 1,268
-64.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$10.84 DKK 69.7
29.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$43.91 DKK 282
-59.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$39.44 DKK 254
4.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$30.04 DKK 193
-76.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$20.46 DKK 132
-71.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$568 DKK 3,655
-47.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$5,912 DKK 38.0K
152.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$101 DKK 647
-45.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$40.29 DKK 259
-33.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$119 DKK 767
-28.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$141 DKK 909
-50.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$746 DKK 4,796
-42.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$548 DKK 3,521
-56.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$1,705 DKK 11.0K
-53.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$1,455 DKK 9,357
-64.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$6,010 DKK 38.6K
-67.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$4,250 DKK 27.3K
-65.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$4,584 DKK 29.5K
-86.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
2.97
68.35%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Herning: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $746 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 642% 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 $110 in Herning. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $383 – 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 123% 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 Herning?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,898 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 Herning?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $568 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 Herning?
Groceries cost about 55% 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 Herning?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Herning at $1,932. 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 $866 versus $1,932 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 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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