🙂A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,493 in Hillerod, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,706 in Hillerod, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,920 in Hillerod, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 65% cheaper than Hillerod, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Hillerod is 86% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$23.00DKK 148
-91.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$99.3DKK 639
-81.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$13.72DKK 88.2
-43.00%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$6.43DKK 41.32
-69.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$4.79DKK 30.83
-82.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$3.21DKK 20.65
-89.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$9.37DKK 60.2
-77.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$7.97DKK 51.2
-53.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.98DKK 12.70
-13.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$3.16DKK 20.29
-48.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$2.55DKK 16.40
-55.29%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$4.96DKK 31.91
-61.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$9.09DKK 58.4
78.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$10.81DKK 69.5
-71.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$16.03DKK 103
-32.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$2.99DKK 19.21
-8.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$3.36DKK 21.61
-63.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$3.50DKK 22.53
-53.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$5.94DKK 38.20
-73.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$2.29DKK 14.72
-38.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$1.79DKK 11.50
-34.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$1.69DKK 10.84
-60.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.82DKK 5.28
-35.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$8.82DKK 56.7
-46.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$10.31DKK 66.3
80.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.61DKK 10.32
11.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.08DKK 13.34
55.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$3.66DKK 23.50
-75.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$77.1DKK 496
-75.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$7.80DKK 50.1
-81.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$1.76DKK 11.32
-26.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$61.1DKK 393
-87.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$2.12DKK 13.63
-40.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$49.5KDKK 318.4K
-57.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$47.8KDKK 307.2K
-53.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$173DKK 1,110
-60.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$19.81DKK 127
-28.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$42.39DKK 273
-57.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$40.81DKK 262
0.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$29.37DKK 189
-76.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$18.68DKK 120
-68.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$741DKK 4,764
-59.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$5,851DKK 37.6K
155.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$102DKK 653
-46.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$35.82DKK 230
-25.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$123DKK 790
-30.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$196DKK 1,262
-64.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$916DKK 5,891
-53.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$1,107DKK 7,117
-78.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$1,534DKK 9,862
-47.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$1,708DKK 11.0K
-69.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Hillerod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$3,880DKK 24.9K
-84.09%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hillerod: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $916 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 528% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $99.0 in Hillerod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $349 – 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 188% 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 Hillerod?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,739 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 Hillerod?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $741 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 Hillerod?
Groceries cost about 42% 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 Hillerod?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Hillerod at $2,493. 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 $866 versus $2,493 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 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