๐A single person spends $1,805 per month in Hรคrnรถsand vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,811 per month in Hรคrnรถsand vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,817 per month in Hรคrnรถsand vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
๐Hรคrnรถsand costs about 108% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Hรคrnรถsand sits 34% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37SEKย 125
$1.98เธฟ64.3
575.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8SEKย 702
$18.80เธฟ612
297.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.43SEKย 97.8
$7.75เธฟ252
34.58%
Cappuccino
$4.54SEKย 42.58
$1.92เธฟ62.5
136.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74SEKย 25.73
$0.79เธฟ25.79
246.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37SEKย 22.22
$0.36เธฟ11.62
558.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.67SEKย 71.9
$2.21เธฟ72.1
247.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51SEKย 70.4
$3.66เธฟ119
105.19%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SEKย 15.63
$1.65เธฟ53.8
1.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75SEKย 25.84
$1.63เธฟ53.2
68.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93SEKย 36.88
$1.19เธฟ38.86
230.25%
Eggs
$4.21SEKย 39.53
$2.00เธฟ65.1
110.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07SEKย 113
$15.98เธฟ520
-24.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.92SEKย 112
$3.03เธฟ98.5
293.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.31SEKย 162
$10.86เธฟ354
59.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07SEKย 28.82
$2.76เธฟ90.0
11.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEKย 25.04
$1.18เธฟ38.42
126.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03SEKย 28.46
$1.64เธฟ53.5
84.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31SEKย 40.41
$1.52เธฟ49.51
183.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62SEKย 15.23
$1.38เธฟ45.10
17.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86SEKย 17.45
$1.19เธฟ38.84
56.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.59SEKย 24.26
$0.70เธฟ22.86
270.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51SEKย 14.21
$0.56เธฟ18.13
169.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30SEKย 68.4
$4.58เธฟ149
59.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.92SEKย 102
$16.56เธฟ539
-34.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SEKย 18.59
$1.83เธฟ59.5
8.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SEKย 18.40
$3.20เธฟ104
-38.75%
๐ Getting Around
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.37SEKย 31.58
$0.88เธฟ28.56
282.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.4SEKย 689
$18.72เธฟ610
292.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.45SEKย 60.5
$1.36เธฟ44.16
374.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEKย 15.35
$1.34เธฟ43.65
22.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.1SEKย 583
$7.84เธฟ256
692.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEKย 17.86
$1.23เธฟ39.92
54.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEKย 302.9K
$21.6Kเธฟ704.3K
49.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEKย 317.9K
$22.5Kเธฟ734.3K
50.33%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113SEKย 1,059
$70.5เธฟ2,298
60.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.99SEKย 272
$13.68เธฟ445
111.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.90SEKย 337
$17.45เธฟ568
105.73%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.22SEKย 387
$41.33เธฟ1,346
-0.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.69SEKย 241
$6.96เธฟ227
269.11%
Cinema Ticket
$15.73SEKย 148
$5.77เธฟ188
172.62%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149SEKย 1,394
$307เธฟ10.0K
-51.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,205SEKย 39.4K
$14.6Kเธฟ475.9K
-71.22%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9SEKย 900
$55.8เธฟ1,817
71.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.38SEKย 388
$26.21เธฟ854
57.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6SEKย 906
$85.8เธฟ2,793
12.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151SEKย 1,419
$72.2เธฟ2,353
109.39%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$836SEKย 7,844
$430เธฟ14.0K
94.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643SEKย 6,028
$239เธฟ7,774
169.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382SEKย 13.0K
$817เธฟ26.6K
69.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,097SEKย 10.3K
$511เธฟ16.6K
114.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,813SEKย 35.8K
$1,983เธฟ64.6K
92.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,804SEKย 26.3K
$1,484เธฟ48.3K
88.97%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Hรคrnรถsand
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619เธฟ20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
5
-9.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hรคrnรถsand: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $836 in Hรคrnรถsand 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Hรคrnรถsand versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $241 โ 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
Hรคrnรถsand vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hรคrnรถsand or Chiang Mai?
Hรคrnรถsand costs about 108% 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 Hรคrnรถsand vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,707 per month in Hรคrnรถsand and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hรคrnรถsand 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 Hรคrnรถsand and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $149 per month in Hรคrnรถsand 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 Hรคrnรถsand or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Hรคrnรถsand, 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 Hรคrnรถsand or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Hรคrnรถsand at $1,805. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hรคrnรถsand it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hรคrnรถsand or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,805 in Hรคrnรถsand. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hรคrnรถsand 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Hรคrnรถsand or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hรคrnรถsand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Hรคrnรถsand vs other spots: cost of living compared