😐A single person spends $2,566 per month in Veldhoven vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,737 per month in Veldhoven vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,907 per month in Veldhoven vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Veldhoven costs about 196% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Veldhoven sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.38€21.86
$1.94฿63.6
1208.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0€74.9
$18.64฿609
366.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.93€13.72
$7.82฿256
103.71%
Cappuccino
$4.32€3.72
$1.95฿63.9
121.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.20
$0.85฿27.80
337.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11€2.68
$0.35฿11.60
788.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.76€4.96
$2.13฿69.7
170.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49€5.59
$3.73฿122
73.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.71฿56.0
-26.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.84
$1.63฿53.3
30.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.97€2.56
$1.14฿37.18
160.53%
Eggs
$4.78€4.12
$1.93฿63.2
147.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.06€11.24
$16.21฿530
-19.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.08€12.98
$3.12฿102
383.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.28€14.02
$10.90฿356
49.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34€2.01
$2.75฿90.1
-14.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.40€2.07
$1.21฿39.56
98.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.60
$1.62฿53.0
14.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70€3.18
$1.59฿51.9
132.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.69
$1.40฿45.75
40.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.17฿38.20
71.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21€1.05
$0.66฿21.62
83.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.71
$0.53฿17.24
56.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.30€11.45
$4.69฿153
183.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.06€6.08
$18.66฿610
-62.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.30
$1.80฿58.8
-16.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$3.23฿106
-19.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.63€3.13
$0.90฿29.28
303.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.3€81.2
$19.21฿628
390.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.74€3.22
$1.41฿45.96
165.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22€1.91
$1.29฿42.16
72.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.39€26.17
$7.84฿256
287.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€1.98
$1.27฿41.62
81.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.3K
$21.3K฿695.5K
60.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K€32.0K
$22.2K฿726.1K
67.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$251€216
$69.1฿2,258
262.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.41€18.44
$14.08฿460
52.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.07€37.09
$18.00฿588
139.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8€45.47
$41.06฿1,342
28.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.54€20.27
$6.96฿227
238.22%
Cinema Ticket
$16.82€14.48
$5.92฿193
184.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,043€1,760
$299฿9,775
583.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,504€6,461
$15.0K฿488.8K
-49.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5€76.2
$54.7฿1,788
61.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.78€38.56
$26.77฿875
67.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€92.4
$85.0฿2,778
26.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€105
$70.6฿2,308
73.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,398€1,204
$428฿14.0K
226.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,154€994
$237฿7,759
386.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,316€1,994
$801฿26.2K
189.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,714€1,476
$515฿16.9K
232.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Veldhoven
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,602€3,963
$617฿20.2K
645.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
5
-16.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Veldhoven: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,398 in Veldhoven versus $428 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 645% higher in Veldhoven, 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 $87.0 in Veldhoven versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $246 – 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
Veldhoven vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Veldhoven or Chiang Mai?
Veldhoven costs about 196% 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 Veldhoven vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,850 per month in Veldhoven and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Veldhoven 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 Veldhoven and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,043 per month in Veldhoven and $299 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 Veldhoven or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Veldhoven, 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 Veldhoven or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Veldhoven at $2,566. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Veldhoven it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Veldhoven or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,566 in Veldhoven. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Veldhoven 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 Veldhoven or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Veldhoven makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.