😐A single person spends $2,406 per month in Den Helder vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,555 per month in Den Helder vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,705 per month in Den Helder vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Den Helder costs about 177% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Den Helder sits 79% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.94€18.04
$1.98฿64.3
957.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.6€75.5
$18.80฿612
366.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.08€12.13
$7.75฿252
81.68%
Cappuccino
$4.61€3.97
$1.92฿62.5
140.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05€3.49
$0.79฿25.79
412.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.73
$0.36฿11.62
780.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.05€6.07
$2.21฿72.1
219.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71€4.92
$3.66฿119
56.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38€1.19
$1.65฿53.8
-16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46€2.12
$1.63฿53.2
50.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.11€2.68
$1.19฿38.86
161.34%
Eggs
$5.32€4.58
$2.00฿65.1
166.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.55€12.53
$15.98฿520
-8.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.47€14.19
$3.03฿98.5
443.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.74€15.29
$10.86฿354
63.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44€2.11
$2.76฿90.0
-11.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$1.18฿38.42
116.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92€1.66
$1.64฿53.5
17.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63€3.13
$1.52฿49.51
138.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.38฿45.10
40.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.19฿38.84
80.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$0.70฿22.86
85.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$0.56฿18.13
103.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.33€12.34
$4.58฿149
212.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.19€6.19
$16.56฿539
-56.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.83฿59.5
-24.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$3.20฿104
-19.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.62€3.12
$0.88฿28.56
311.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.5€80.6
$18.72฿610
399.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.76€3.24
$1.36฿44.16
176.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49€2.15
$1.34฿43.65
85.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.01€23.27
$7.84฿256
244.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.35€2.02
$1.23฿39.92
91.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4K€34.8K
$21.6K฿704.3K
86.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€33.6K
$22.5K฿734.3K
73.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.2€84.6
$70.5฿2,298
39.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.41€22.75
$13.68฿445
93.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.83€41.21
$17.45฿568
174.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.17€34.61
$41.33฿1,346
-2.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.79€19.63
$6.96฿227
227.44%
Cinema Ticket
$16.22€13.97
$5.77฿188
181.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,616€2,254
$307฿10.0K
751.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0K€9,460
$14.6K฿475.9K
-24.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117€101
$55.8฿1,817
110.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.0€53.4
$26.21฿854
136.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.1
$85.8฿2,793
23.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129€111
$72.2฿2,353
78.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,448€1,248
$430฿14.0K
236.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,164€1,003
$239฿7,774
387.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,249€1,938
$817฿26.6K
175.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,766€1,521
$511฿16.6K
245.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,264€4,536
$1,983฿64.6K
165.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,411€3,801
$1,484฿48.3K
197.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Den Helder
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,239€1,929
$619฿20.2K
261.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
5
-12.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Den Helder: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,448 in Den Helder versus $430 in Chiang Mai. 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 262% higher in Den Helder, 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 $88.0 in Den Helder versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $241 – 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
Den Helder vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Den Helder or Chiang Mai?
Den Helder costs about 177% 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 Den Helder vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,609 per month in Den Helder and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Den Helder or Chiang Mai?
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 Den Helder and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,616 per month in Den Helder and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Den Helder or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Den Helder, 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 Den Helder or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Den Helder at $2,406. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Den Helder it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Den Helder or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,406 in Den Helder. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Den Helder compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Den Helder or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Den Helder makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Den Helder vs other spots: cost of living compared