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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,011 in Thisted, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,145 in Thisted, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,278 in Thisted, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Thisted, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Thisted is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿68.5
$15.00 DKK 96.5
-86.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿646
$114 DKK 731
-82.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.65 ฿186
$13.84 DKK 89.1
-59.18%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿59.3
$6.32 DKK 40.65
-71.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ฿23.44
$2.30 DKK 14.83
-69.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.38
$3.27 DKK 21.07
-90.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 ฿73.5
$8.02 DKK 51.6
-72.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿119
$7.25 DKK 46.68
-49.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ฿64.4
$2.07 DKK 13.29
-5.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ฿49.38
$3.80 DKK 24.45
-60.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.92
$1.51 DKK 9.73
-11.26%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿74.4
$2.87 DKK 18.46
-21.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.26 ฿534
$15.24 DKK 98.1
6.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 ฿97.1
$6.94 DKK 44.68
-57.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 ฿327
$24.04 DKK 155
-58.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ฿84.5
$2.28 DKK 14.71
12.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ฿34.72
$2.29 DKK 14.75
-53.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.0
$3.33 DKK 21.41
-51.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.96
$3.86 DKK 24.82
-60.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 ฿41.76
$2.29 DKK 14.72
-44.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 ฿35.05
$1.97 DKK 12.67
-45.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.67
$1.85 DKK 11.89
-61.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.72
$0.95 DKK 6.09
-46.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 ฿138
$9.57 DKK 61.6
-56.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 ฿587
$10.85 DKK 69.9
64.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ฿55.7
$1.16 DKK 7.45
45.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿93.2
$2.16 DKK 13.92
31.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿30.42
$4.07 DKK 26.20
-77.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,770
$99.6 DKK 641
-45.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.58
$7.64 DKK 49.18
-83.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿18.96
$1.94 DKK 12.51
-70.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿79.7
$53.5 DKK 344
-95.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ฿46.42
$2.51 DKK 16.14
-43.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿704.9K
$51.6K DKK 332.2K
-58.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿898.5K
$50.0K DKK 321.9K
-45.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,093
$159 DKK 1,024
-59.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85 ฿423
$14.31 DKK 92.1
-10.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22 ฿665
$38.84 DKK 250
-47.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.74 ฿1,274
$45.79 DKK 295
-15.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97 ฿130
$25.69 DKK 165
-84.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74 ฿221
$18.83 DKK 121
-64.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$778 ฿25.6K
$382 DKK 2,456
103.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿480.2K
$6,679 DKK 43.0K
118.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 ฿1,785
$78.5 DKK 505
-30.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45 ฿836
$31.59 DKK 203
-19.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,101
$77.9 DKK 501
21.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4 ฿2,414
$139 DKK 893
-47.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.1K
$953 DKK 6,134
-48.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 ฿9,510
$771 DKK 4,960
-62.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 ฿29.4K
$1,698 DKK 10.9K
-47.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$517 ฿17.0K
$1,311 DKK 8,435
-60.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,955 ฿64.3K
$4,678 DKK 30.1K
-58.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,477 ฿48.5K
$3,333 DKK 21.5K
-55.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Thisted
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.44
25.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Thisted: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $953 in Thisted. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Thisted. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $348 – 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 Thisted: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Thisted?
Thisted costs about 112% 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 Thisted?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,017 in Thisted. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Thisted?
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 Thisted?
Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $382 in Thisted. 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 Thisted?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Thisted, 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 Thisted?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Thisted at $2,011. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thisted it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Thisted?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $2,011 in Thisted. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Thisted?
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 Thisted?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thisted makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities