Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Roskilde

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,518 in Roskilde, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Roskilde, Denmark
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Roskilde
🇩🇰 Denmark
$2,518
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Roskilde

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Roskilde actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,518 in Roskilde, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Roskilde $2,518

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,879 in Roskilde, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Roskilde $3,879

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,241 in Roskilde, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Roskilde $5,241

Chiang Mai is about 63% cheaper than Roskilde, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Roskilde is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$18.08 DKK 121
-87.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$111 DKK 744
-82.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$14.66 DKK 98.2
-62.14%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$7.19 DKK 48.14
-76.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$4.32 DKK 28.91
-85.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$3.41 DKK 22.85
-90.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$8.43 DKK 56.5
-72.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$8.37 DKK 56.1
-56.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.94 DKK 12.96
0.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$3.94 DKK 26.38
-63.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$2.29 DKK 15.34
-41.92%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$4.92 DKK 32.94
-53.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$14.48 DKK 97.0
13.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$11.17 DKK 74.8
-75.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$18.20 DKK 122
-48.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$2.65 DKK 17.76
-11.32%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$2.84 DKK 19.04
-65.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$2.10 DKK 14.05
-23.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$4.00 DKK 26.81
-62.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$1.73 DKK 11.62
-26.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$1.38 DKK 9.25
-20.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$1.38 DKK 9.25
-48.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.67 DKK 4.50
-26.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$9.06 DKK 60.7
-54.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$7.27 DKK 48.71
140.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.97 DKK 13.17
-18.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.54 DKK 17.03
9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$75.8 DKK 508
-28.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$5.94 DKK 39.80
-80.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$1.72 DKK 11.55
-69.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$60.9 DKK 408
-96.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$2.27 DKK 15.19
-36.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$53.0K DKK 355.1K
-60.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$53.1K DKK 355.7K
-49.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$215 DKK 1,440
-71.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$15.49 DKK 104
-21.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$43.42 DKK 291
-53.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$60.9 DKK 408
-38.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$16.63 DKK 111
-60.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$368 DKK 2,466
99.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$5,944 DKK 39.8K
148.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$104 DKK 697
-48.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$47.54 DKK 318
-48.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$152 DKK 1,019
-39.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$189 DKK 1,267
-61.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,278 DKK 8,558
-62.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,122 DKK 7,514
-72.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$2,552 DKK 17.1K
-60.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,986 DKK 13.3K
-68.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$6,679 DKK 44.7K
-64.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$5,952 DKK 39.9K
-73.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Roskilde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$4,196 DKK 28.1K
-85.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.67
51.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Roskilde: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Roskilde
$1.1K 263% $813
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Roskilde
$351 49.9% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Roskilde
$222 104% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Roskilde
$274 190% $179
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Roskilde
$365 370% $287
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Roskilde
$90 * 47.2% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Roskilde
$94 87.2% $44

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,278 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 in Roskilde are about 7.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $111 in Roskilde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $351 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇩🇰 Roskilde
🕒 Local time
20:09 8:09 PM
14:09 2:09 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
50,781
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

DKK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Danish Krone exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 6.7 DKK (1 DKK = 0.149 USD). 1 EUR = 7.48 DKK (1 DKK = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Roskilde 8,100 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Roskilde

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 169% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Roskilde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,777 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,278 in Roskilde.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Roskilde?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $368 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 in Roskilde?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Roskilde, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Roskilde?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $2,518 in Roskilde. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Roskilde?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $2,518 in Roskilde. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Roskilde?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Roskilde?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries 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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