😐A single person spends $2,652 per month in Roskilde vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,018 per month in Roskilde vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,384 per month in Roskilde vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Roskilde costs about 180% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Roskilde sits 93% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.79DKK 121
$2.08฿69.4
803.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119DKK 766
$19.64฿654
504.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.78DKK 102
$5.65฿188
179.29%
Cappuccino
$7.45DKK 48.05
$1.81฿60.1
311.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35DKK 28.08
$0.71฿23.75
512.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69DKK 23.78
$0.32฿10.52
1053.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.41DKK 54.3
$2.24฿74.5
275.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.00DKK 58.1
$3.63฿121
147.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13DKK 13.71
$1.96฿65.2
8.67%
White Bread(500g)
$4.07DKK 26.26
$1.50฿50.0
171.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48DKK 16.00
$1.34฿44.49
85.07%
Eggs
$4.85DKK 31.30
$2.26฿75.4
114.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.73DKK 95.0
$16.26฿541
-9.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.05DKK 77.7
$2.95฿98.4
308.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.30DKK 124
$9.94฿331
94.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74DKK 17.64
$2.57฿85.7
6.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79DKK 18.02
$1.06฿35.18
163.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11DKK 13.62
$1.61฿53.7
31.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22DKK 27.24
$1.52฿50.6
177.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74DKK 11.21
$1.27฿42.30
37.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50DKK 9.70
$1.07฿35.51
40.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46DKK 9.41
$0.72฿23.98
102.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68DKK 4.39
$0.51฿16.94
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.41DKK 60.7
$4.19฿140
124.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55DKK 48.72
$17.87฿595
-57.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98DKK 12.77
$1.69฿56.4
17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75DKK 17.75
$2.84฿94.5
-3.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.93฿30.82
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.7DKK 494
$53.9฿1,794
42.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.04DKK 38.96
$1.23฿41.11
391.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72DKK 11.10
$0.58฿19.20
196.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$65.5DKK 422
$2.42฿80.7
2605.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31DKK 14.92
$1.41฿47.03
63.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.9KDKK 341.5K
$21.4K฿714.1K
146.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.8KDKK 353.7K
$27.3K฿910.2K
100.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225DKK 1,449
$63.7฿2,120
252.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.14DKK 104
$12.85฿428
25.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.19DKK 291
$20.22฿673
123.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.0DKK 400
$38.74฿1,290
60.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.01DKK 110
$6.74฿224
152.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389DKK 2,509
$778฿25.9K
-49.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,119DKK 39.5K
$14.6K฿486.5K
-58.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107DKK 690
$54.3฿1,808
97.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.29DKK 318
$25.45฿847
93.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$161DKK 1,040
$94.3฿3,141
70.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$197DKK 1,271
$73.4฿2,446
168.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,361DKK 8,775
$490฿16.3K
177.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,179DKK 7,603
$289฿9,634
307.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,625DKK 16.9K
$894฿29.8K
193.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,096DKK 13.5K
$517฿17.2K
305.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,823DKK 44.0K
$1,955฿65.1K
248.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,231DKK 40.2K
$1,477฿49.2K
321.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roskilde
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,214DKK 27.2K
$602฿20.0K
599.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.7
5.57
-33.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roskilde: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,361 in Roskilde versus $490 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 600% higher in Roskilde, 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 $119 in Roskilde versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $240 – 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
Roskilde vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Roskilde or Chiang Mai?
Roskilde costs about 180% 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 Roskilde and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,978 per month in Roskilde and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Roskilde 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 Roskilde and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Roskilde and $778 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 Roskilde or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Roskilde, 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 Roskilde or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Roskilde at $2,652. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roskilde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Roskilde or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $2,652 in Roskilde. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Roskilde 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 Roskilde or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roskilde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.