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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,907 in Herning, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,335 in Herning, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,763 in Herning, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Herning is 43% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$23.08 DKK 151
-91.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$110 DKK 718
-83.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$13.74 DKK 89.9
-45.56%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$5.65 DKK 36.99
-64.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$3.53 DKK 23.09
-75.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$3.35 DKK 21.90
-89.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$8.44 DKK 55.3
-74.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$7.91 DKK 51.8
-54.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.93 DKK 12.61
-14.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$3.93 DKK 25.70
-60.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$3.04 DKK 19.89
-60.86%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$5.61 DKK 36.71
-65.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$7.27 DKK 47.58
122.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$12.31 DKK 80.6
-75.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$17.25 DKK 113
-36.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$3.39 DKK 22.18
-20.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$3.54 DKK 23.18
-66.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$3.45 DKK 22.56
-51.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$5.49 DKK 35.94
-70.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$2.45 DKK 16.03
-43.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$2.05 DKK 13.42
-41.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$2.28 DKK 14.91
-70.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$1.61 DKK 10.55
-65.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$9.33 DKK 61.1
-50.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$10.80 DKK 70.7
63.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$1.74 DKK 11.37
6.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.52 DKK 16.47
30.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$3.76 DKK 24.65
-76.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$76.1 DKK 499
-74.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$7.94 DKK 52.0
-82.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$2.07 DKK 13.55
-35.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$109 DKK 715
-92.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$2.21 DKK 14.46
-44.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$46.0K DKK 301.0K
-53.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$52.7K DKK 345.3K
-57.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$196 DKK 1,282
-63.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$10.55 DKK 69.1
33.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$43.07 DKK 282
-59.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$40.26 DKK 264
4.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$29.60 DKK 194
-76.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$20.57 DKK 135
-71.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$586 DKK 3,834
-47.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$5,973 DKK 39.1K
149.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$103 DKK 673
-45.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$40.43 DKK 265
-35.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$119 DKK 780
-30.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$139 DKK 907
-49.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$746 DKK 4,882
-42.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$564 DKK 3,694
-57.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$1,700 DKK 11.1K
-51.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$1,437 DKK 9,412
-64.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$5,159 DKK 33.8K
-62.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
$3,550 DKK 23.2K
-58.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Herning
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$4,601 DKK 30.1K
-87.41%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Herning: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 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 694% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $110 in Herning. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 122% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,861 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $586 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 57% 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 $861, than in Herning at $1,907. 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 $861 versus $1,907 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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