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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,463 in Roskilde, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,950 in Roskilde, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,436 in Roskilde, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 65% cheaper than Roskilde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Roskilde is 84% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$18.44 DKK 119
-89.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$117 DKK 752
-84.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$13.88 DKK 89.3
-43.66%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$6.81 DKK 43.77
-71.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$4.69 DKK 30.15
-81.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$3.07 DKK 19.76
-88.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$9.20 DKK 59.2
-76.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$7.59 DKK 48.80
-50.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.96 DKK 12.61
-12.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$3.26 DKK 20.97
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$2.43 DKK 15.63
-53.09%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$4.89 DKK 31.41
-60.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$13.52 DKK 86.9
19.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$10.90 DKK 70.1
-71.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$16.11 DKK 104
-32.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$2.78 DKK 17.90
-1.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$2.93 DKK 18.85
-58.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$2.11 DKK 13.56
-23.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$4.09 DKK 26.31
-61.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$1.82 DKK 11.71
-23.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$1.54 DKK 9.91
-24.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$1.63 DKK 10.46
-59.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.75 DKK 4.83
-29.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$8.74 DKK 56.2
-46.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$7.72 DKK 49.65
141.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.96 DKK 12.61
-8.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.16 DKK 13.86
49.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$3.79 DKK 24.35
-76.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$78.0 DKK 501
-75.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$6.34 DKK 40.77
-77.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$1.38 DKK 8.87
-6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$60.5 DKK 389
-87.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$2.11 DKK 13.56
-39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$49.2K DKK 316.4K
-56.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$47.8K DKK 307.6K
-53.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$205 DKK 1,317
-66.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$20.15 DKK 130
-30.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$40.16 DKK 258
-55.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$53.9 DKK 347
-23.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$30.15 DKK 194
-76.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$16.99 DKK 109
-65.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$395 DKK 2,541
-24.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$5,857 DKK 37.7K
155.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$105 DKK 673
-47.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$36.35 DKK 234
-26.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$121 DKK 775
-29.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$201 DKK 1,293
-64.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$1,324 DKK 8,514
-67.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$1,144 DKK 7,354
-79.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$2,634 DKK 16.9K
-69.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$2,103 DKK 13.5K
-75.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$6,977 DKK 44.9K
-71.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$6,208 DKK 39.9K
-76.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$4,306 DKK 27.7K
-85.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
3.93
27.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Roskilde: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,324 in Roskilde. 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 597% higher in Roskilde, 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 $117 in Roskilde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $339 – 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 Roskilde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Roskilde?
Roskilde costs about 184% 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 Roskilde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,695 in Roskilde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Roskilde?
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 Roskilde?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $395 in Roskilde. 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 Roskilde?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Roskilde, 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 Roskilde?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Roskilde at $2,463. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roskilde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Roskilde?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,463 in Roskilde. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Roskilde?
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 Roskilde?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roskilde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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