Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hilversum and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $938 a month against $2,920 in Hilversum, rent and utilities included – about $23,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hilversum
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,920
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $2,920 per month in Hilversum vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Hilversum $2,920
  • Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $4,236 per month in Hilversum vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Hilversum $4,236
  • Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $5,553 per month in Hilversum vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Hilversum $5,553
  • Chiang Mai $1,914

Hilversum costs about 211% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Hilversum sits 116% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.73 €24.67
$2.26 ฿75.4
1126.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 €70.7
$19.18 ฿641
314.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.70 €14.85
$5.59 ฿187
198.75%
Cappuccino
$4.30 €3.82
$1.72 ฿57.6
150.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 €3.49
$0.64 ฿21.54
512.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 €2.65
$0.33 ฿11.18
803.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.53 €4.92
$2.36 ฿78.7
134.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 €4.92
$3.90 ฿130
41.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.61
$2.05 ฿68.6
-11.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 €2.11
$1.40 ฿46.70
69.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.47 €3.09
$1.28 ฿42.89
171.09%
Eggs
$5.27 €4.69
$2.25 ฿75.3
134.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.30 €12.72
$16.94 ฿566
-15.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.89 €12.35
$2.74 ฿91.6
406.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.46 €14.64
$9.36 ฿313
75.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 €2.25
$2.40 ฿80.3
5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 €2.38
$1.01 ฿33.92
165.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 €2.41
$1.61 ฿53.9
68.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.21 €4.63
$1.52 ฿50.7
242.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.28 ฿42.90
47.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 €1.98
$1.11 ฿37.22
100.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.32
$0.72 ฿24.09
105.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 €1.02
$0.52 ฿17.54
119.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.60 €11.21
$4.33 ฿145
190.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.83 €6.07
$17.73 ฿593
-61.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 €1.31
$1.63 ฿54.4
-9.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 €2.42
$2.85 ฿95.3
-4.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.62 €3.22
$0.85 ฿28.31
325.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 €58.7
$53.9 ฿1,801
22.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.50 €4.89
$1.17 ฿39.18
370.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.44 €3.06
$0.57 ฿19.00
503.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.12 €19.67
$2.37 ฿79.2
833.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.39 €2.13
$1.45 ฿48.32
64.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K €37.2K
$20.5K ฿684.3K
104.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.6K €37.9K
$26.5K ฿886.1K
60.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$265 €236
$62.3 ฿2,083
325.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28 €25.15
$12.27 ฿410
130.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2 €56.2
$19.97 ฿668
216.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.0 €60.5
$37.91 ฿1,267
79.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.61 €29.89
$3.76 ฿126
793.88%
Cinema Ticket
$16.73 €14.88
$6.71 ฿224
149.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$678 €603
$797 ฿26.6K
-14.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K €13.9K
$14.8K ฿495.7K
5.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113 €100
$53.3 ฿1,780
112.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.90 €42.60
$25.05 ฿837
91.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 €80.4
$91.6 ฿3,062
-1.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 €126
$73.5 ฿2,455
92.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,683 €1,497
$464 ฿15.5K
262.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 €1,274
$305 ฿10.2K
370.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,924 €2,601
$915 ฿30.6K
219.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,281 €2,029
$552 ฿18.5K
312.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,800 €6,049
$1,912 ฿63.9K
255.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,225 €4,648
$1,438 ฿48.1K
263.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hilversum
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,910 €3,478
$595 ฿19.9K
556.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
5.57
-22.80%

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

Last update for Hilversum: October 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hilversum
$1.4K
Chiang Mai
$305 78.7% $1.1K
Eating Out
Hilversum
$390
Chiang Mai
$79 79.7% $311
Groceries & Markets
Hilversum
$360
Chiang Mai
$238 34% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hilversum
$356
Chiang Mai
$95 73.5% $262
Clothing & Footwear
Hilversum
$177
Chiang Mai
$110 38% $67
Getting Around
Hilversum
$103
Chiang Mai
$61 40.6% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Hilversum
$101
Chiang Mai
$51 49.4% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Hilversum versus $464 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 557% higher in Hilversum, 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 $80.0 in Hilversum versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $238 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Hilversum
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
03:38 3:38 AM
08:38 8:38 AM
5 h ahead of Hilversum
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
93,345
127,240
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hilversum Chiang Mai 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hilversum
  • Chiang Mai

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
Hilversum vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hilversum or Chiang Mai?
Hilversum costs about 211% 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 Hilversum and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,380 per month in Hilversum and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hilversum 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 Hilversum and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $678 per month in Hilversum and $797 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 Hilversum or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Hilversum, 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 Hilversum or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Hilversum at $2,920. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hilversum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hilversum or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $938 versus $2,920 in Hilversum. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hilversum 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 Hilversum or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hilversum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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