🙂A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,500 in Hillerod, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,737 in Hillerod, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,974 in Hillerod, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 66% cheaper than Hillerod, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Hillerod is 87% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.7
$23.15DKK 151
-91.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿616
$102DKK 666
-82.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿251
$13.94DKK 91.1
-46.34%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.7
$6.45DKK 42.15
-68.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.45
$4.65DKK 30.38
-81.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.94
$3.18DKK 20.76
-88.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.7
$9.36DKK 61.1
-77.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$7.99DKK 52.2
-55.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.4
$1.98DKK 12.92
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.6
$3.29DKK 21.48
-52.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿39.95
$2.46DKK 16.07
-51.63%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.0
$4.90DKK 32.00
-60.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$9.13DKK 59.6
77.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿100
$10.63DKK 69.5
-71.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿367
$16.10DKK 105
-32.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.0
$3.08DKK 20.09
-12.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.18
$3.25DKK 21.21
-64.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.6
$3.61DKK 23.60
-53.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿53.9
$6.00DKK 39.20
-73.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.45
$2.27DKK 14.80
-39.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.38
$1.81DKK 11.83
-33.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.46
$1.74DKK 11.35
-61.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.70
$0.82DKK 5.38
-31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$9.21DKK 60.2
-49.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿591
$10.36DKK 67.7
70.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.4
$1.67DKK 10.90
11.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.11DKK 13.80
56.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.63
$3.80DKK 24.85
-76.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿649
$76.7DKK 501
-74.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.82
$7.74DKK 50.6
-82.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.90
$1.66DKK 10.84
-19.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$62.0DKK 405
-86.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.11
$2.14DKK 13.97
-42.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿716.8K
$48.8KDKK 318.6K
-56.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿756.3K
$47.7KDKK 311.9K
-52.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,372
$179DKK 1,168
-60.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿471
$19.84DKK 130
-29.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿587
$42.46DKK 277
-58.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,415
$42.11DKK 275
0.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$30.00DKK 196
-77.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$18.76DKK 123
-68.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$751DKK 4,907
-58.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿499.5K
$5,886DKK 38.5K
152.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,872
$102DKK 669
-45.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿877
$35.07DKK 229
-25.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,787
$120DKK 786
-30.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,365
$197DKK 1,289
-64.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$926DKK 6,050
-53.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,020
$1,087DKK 7,101
-78.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.6K
$1,535DKK 10.0K
-46.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$1,737DKK 11.4K
-70.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.4K
$3,766DKK 24.6K
-84.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.38
14.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Last update for Hillerod: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $926 in Hillerod. 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 550% higher in Hillerod, 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 $102 in Hillerod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $351 – 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 Hillerod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Hillerod?
Hillerod costs about 190% 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 Hillerod?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,750 in Hillerod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Hillerod?
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 Hillerod?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $751 in Hillerod. 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 Hillerod?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Hillerod, 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 Hillerod?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Hillerod at $2,500. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hillerod it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Hillerod?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,500 in Hillerod. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Hillerod?
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 Hillerod?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hillerod makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared