😐A single person spends $1,901 per month in Dendermonde vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,855 per month in Dendermonde vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,809 per month in Dendermonde vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Dendermonde costs about 123% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dendermonde sits 43% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.20€14.90
$2.04฿68.2
743.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.5€80.9
$18.71฿624
399.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59€10.04
$7.86฿262
47.46%
Cappuccino
$4.32€3.74
$2.03฿67.7
112.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.98
$0.80฿26.64
330.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50€3.03
$0.35฿11.68
900.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.87€4.22
$2.14฿71.5
127.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.17
$3.67฿122
-0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.14
$1.73฿57.6
-23.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17€1.88
$1.57฿52.4
38.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.54
$1.20฿39.99
144.17%
Eggs
$3.53€3.06
$1.97฿65.8
79.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.82€10.24
$16.23฿541
-27.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.92€11.19
$3.06฿102
322.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.28€14.96
$10.80฿360
60.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.35
$2.77฿92.3
-1.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.06
$1.17฿38.94
103.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.71฿57.0
17.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.60€2.25
$1.59฿53.2
63.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17€1.88
$1.39฿46.51
56.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.16฿38.56
46.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.66฿22.05
128.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.09
$0.52฿17.31
142.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.67€10.98
$4.65฿155
172.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.25€6.28
$17.78฿593
-59.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.00
$1.79฿59.6
29.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.83
$3.34฿111
-36.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83€2.45
$0.91฿30.27
210.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.6€48.19
$18.64฿622
198.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.34€5.49
$1.41฿47.04
349.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68€2.32
$1.34฿44.70
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.14€29.56
$8.11฿270
320.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93€1.67
$1.23฿41.16
56.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K€25.6K
$21.4K฿715.1K
38.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K€24.6K
$21.8K฿728.0K
30.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178€155
$71.3฿2,379
150.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.46€18.58
$14.01฿467
53.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.42€41.93
$17.93฿598
170.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.45€33.30
$40.82฿1,362
-5.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.82€14.56
$6.88฿230
144.48%
Cinema Ticket
$14.62€12.66
$5.72฿191
155.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$672€582
$308฿10.3K
117.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K€12.0K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-5.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.4
$55.8฿1,860
85.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.38€28.04
$26.04฿869
24.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4€82.6
$84.8฿2,829
12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€113
$71.0฿2,368
84.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$912€790
$423฿14.1K
115.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$751€651
$242฿8,088
209.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,334€1,155
$797฿26.6K
67.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,095€949
$507฿16.9K
116.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,955€3,425
$1,918฿64.0K
106.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,291€2,850
$1,464฿48.8K
124.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dendermonde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,368€2,917
$595฿19.9K
466.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
5
-23.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dendermonde: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $912 in Dendermonde versus $423 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 466% higher in Dendermonde, 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 $93.0 in Dendermonde versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $244 – 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
Dendermonde vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dendermonde or Chiang Mai?
Dendermonde costs about 123% 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 Dendermonde and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,852 per month in Dendermonde and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dendermonde 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 Dendermonde and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $672 per month in Dendermonde and $308 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 Dendermonde or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Dendermonde, 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 Dendermonde or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Dendermonde at $1,901. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dendermonde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dendermonde or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,901 in Dendermonde. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dendermonde 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 Dendermonde or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dendermonde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Dendermonde vs other spots: cost of living compared