😐A single person spends $1,268 per month in Viljandi vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,995 per month in Viljandi vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,721 per month in Viljandi vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Viljandi costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Viljandi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Viljandi8% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.91
$2.10฿69.3
723.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.4€79.6
$19.84฿656
365.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43€9.86
$5.79฿191
97.41%
Cappuccino
$4.39€3.79
$1.83฿60.4
139.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.88
$0.78฿25.61
179.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.96
$0.31฿10.37
632.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.10€6.12
$2.34฿77.2
203.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52€5.62
$3.70฿122
76.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€0.96
$2.03฿67.1
-44.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.28
$1.60฿52.7
-7.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.97€2.56
$1.42฿46.75
109.15%
Eggs
$3.24€2.80
$2.18฿71.9
48.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.32€9.75
$15.91฿526
-28.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68€8.35
$3.07฿102
215.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.72€23.03
$9.87฿326
170.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.63฿86.8
-6.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$1.10฿36.19
32.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$1.63฿53.8
71.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99€2.58
$1.53฿50.6
95.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85€0.73
$1.24฿41.13
-31.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84€0.72
$1.13฿37.37
-25.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04€1.76
$0.74฿24.38
175.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01€0.87
$0.50฿16.48
102.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08€6.11
$4.28฿141
65.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.31€8.88
$17.97฿594
-42.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.67
$1.70฿56.1
13.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.90฿95.7
-22.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.43€5.55
$1.23฿40.76
422.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20€1.04
$0.53฿17.66
126.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.95€24.10
$2.40฿79.3
1064.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.44฿47.55
31.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K€24.7K
$21.2K฿700.2K
35.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K€29.6K
$27.3K฿902.1K
25.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$327€282
$64.9฿2,145
403.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.53€15.11
$13.35฿441
31.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.44€27.96
$20.83฿688
55.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.41€29.66
$40.42฿1,336
-14.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.76€11.86
$6.71฿222
105.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$673€581
$787฿26.0K
-14.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,176
$15.1K฿499.6K
-29.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.7
$56.2฿1,858
85.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8€46.35
$24.95฿824
115.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124€107
$92.7฿3,063
33.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€119
$75.1฿2,482
83.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5.57
-37.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Viljandi: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Viljandi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $242 – 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
Viljandi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Viljandi or Chiang Mai?
Viljandi costs about 33% 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 Viljandi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,903 per month in Viljandi and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Viljandi and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Viljandi and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Viljandi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Viljandi, 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 Viljandi or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Viljandi at $1,268. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Viljandi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Viljandi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,268 in Viljandi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Viljandi 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 Viljandi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Viljandi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.