Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Neu-Ulm and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $1,922 in Neu-Ulm, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Neu-Ulm
🇩🇪 Germany
$1,922
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Neu-Ulm 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 Neu-Ulm and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,922 per month in Neu-Ulm vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Neu-Ulm $1,922
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $2,893 per month in Neu-Ulm vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Neu-Ulm $2,893
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $3,864 per month in Neu-Ulm vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Neu-Ulm $3,864
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Neu-Ulm costs about 108% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Neu-Ulm sits 42% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.81 €14.95
$2.29 ฿76.5
634.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.6 €60.1
$19.64 ฿656
243.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 €11.06
$5.61 ฿188
121.57%
Cappuccino
$3.92 €3.49
$1.66 ฿55.6
136.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 €2.45
$0.70 ฿23.40
292.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.77
$0.31 ฿10.24
541.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.45 €3.96
$2.41 ฿80.4
84.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 €4.10
$3.71 ฿124
24.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 €1.28
$1.95 ฿65.3
-26.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.41 ฿47.03
40.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.04 €3.60
$1.31 ฿43.62
208.40%
Eggs
$4.09 €3.63
$2.18 ฿72.9
87.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.79 €13.15
$16.65 ฿556
-11.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.43 €9.28
$2.76 ฿92.2
277.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.91 €21.27
$9.11 ฿304
162.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 €2.92
$2.39 ฿80.0
37.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 €1.85
$1.03 ฿34.26
101.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 €1.89
$1.63 ฿54.4
30.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 €3.64
$1.50 ฿50.0
172.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.29 ฿43.13
-10.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 €0.98
$1.11 ฿37.03
-0.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 €1.37
$0.72 ฿24.08
113.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 €1.08
$0.53 ฿17.59
128.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.79 €8.71
$4.31 ฿144
127.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.50 €4.89
$17.95 ฿600
-69.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 €1.01
$1.58 ฿52.9
-28.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.33
$2.84 ฿95.0
-47.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.52 €3.13
$0.86 ฿28.86
309.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 €47.96
$53.3 ฿1,780
1.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 €3.59
$1.21 ฿40.29
233.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 €2.02
$0.57 ฿18.99
298.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.49 €24.45
$2.35 ฿78.6
1069.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.15 €1.91
$1.44 ฿47.96
49.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €29.7K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
61.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K €34.5K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
44.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$265 €236
$62.3 ฿2,083
325.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.79 €30.06
$12.11 ฿405
179.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2 €45.58
$19.94 ฿666
156.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.84 €34.55
$37.07 ฿1,239
4.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.08 €22.31
$3.78 ฿126
563.49%
Cinema Ticket
$13.38 €11.90
$6.50 ฿217
105.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$352 €313
$793 ฿26.5K
-55.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,573 €8,515
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-35.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.94 €39.97
$53.7 ฿1,796
-16.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.2 €50.0
$24.62 ฿823
128.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 €71.0
$90.9 ฿3,036
-12.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 €133
$71.1 ฿2,378
110.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 €710
$455 ฿15.2K
75.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 €592
$298 ฿9,954
123.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 €998
$908 ฿30.4K
23.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 €1,009
$554 ฿18.5K
104.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,942 €4,396
$1,931 ฿64.5K
155.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,353 €2,983
$1,445 ฿48.3K
132.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Neu-Ulm
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,612 €3,213
$591 ฿19.7K
511.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.95
5.57
-29.08%

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

Last update for Neu-Ulm: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Neu-Ulm
$666
Chiang Mai
$298 55.3% $368
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Neu-Ulm
$350
Chiang Mai
$94 73% $256
Groceries & Markets
Neu-Ulm
$339
Chiang Mai
$235 30.5% $103
Eating Out
Neu-Ulm
$269
Chiang Mai
$79 70.8% $191
Clothing & Footwear
Neu-Ulm
$149
Chiang Mai
$108 27.4% $41
Getting Around
Neu-Ulm
$83
Chiang Mai
$61 27.1% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Neu-Ulm
$66
Chiang Mai
$50 23.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $798 in Neu-Ulm versus $455 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 511% higher in Neu-Ulm, 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 $68.0 in Neu-Ulm versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Neu-Ulm
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
12:51 12:51 PM
17:51 5:51 PM
5 h ahead of Neu-Ulm
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
62,610
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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Neu-Ulm Chiang Mai 8,380 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Neu-Ulm
  • 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
Neu-Ulm vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Neu-Ulm or Chiang Mai?
Neu-Ulm costs about 108% 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 Neu-Ulm and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,883 per month in Neu-Ulm and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Neu-Ulm 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 Neu-Ulm and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $352 per month in Neu-Ulm and $793 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 Neu-Ulm or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Neu-Ulm, 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 Neu-Ulm or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Neu-Ulm at $1,922. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Neu-Ulm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Neu-Ulm or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $1,922 in Neu-Ulm. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Neu-Ulm 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 Neu-Ulm or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Neu-Ulm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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