😐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Viljandi vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,965 per month in Viljandi vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,668 per month in Viljandi vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Viljandi costs about 46% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Viljandi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Viljandi6% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.35€14.07
$1.94฿63.6
742.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0€74.9
$18.64฿609
366.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.44€9.85
$7.82฿256
46.29%
Cappuccino
$4.40€3.79
$1.95฿63.9
125.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.47
$0.85฿27.80
236.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.10
$0.35฿11.60
597.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.49€5.59
$2.13฿69.7
204.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68€5.75
$3.73฿122
79.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.12
$1.71฿56.0
-23.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49€1.28
$1.63฿53.3
-8.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00€2.59
$1.14฿37.18
163.16%
Eggs
$2.94€2.53
$1.93฿63.2
52.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.18€11.35
$16.21฿530
-18.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.38€8.08
$3.12฿102
200.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.83€19.66
$10.90฿356
109.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27€1.95
$2.75฿90.1
-17.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$1.21฿39.56
32.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80€2.41
$1.62฿53.0
72.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.82€3.29
$1.59฿51.9
140.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41€1.21
$1.40฿45.75
0.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94€0.81
$1.17฿38.20
-19.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03€1.75
$0.66฿21.62
207.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08€0.93
$0.53฿17.24
103.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81€5.86
$4.69฿153
45.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.70€9.21
$18.66฿610
-42.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.72
$1.80฿58.8
11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.21
$3.23฿106
-20.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$1.41฿45.96
195.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86€0.74
$1.29฿42.16
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.14€14.76
$7.84฿256
118.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92€1.65
$1.27฿41.62
51.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K€27.7K
$21.3K฿695.5K
51.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.4K
$22.2K฿726.1K
53.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$352€303
$69.1฿2,258
410.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.04€17.25
$14.08฿460
42.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.13€30.25
$18.00฿588
95.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.22€30.33
$41.06฿1,342
-14.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.92€11.98
$5.92฿193
135.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263€226
$299฿9,775
-12.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,016€6,903
$15.0K฿488.8K
-46.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114€98.0
$54.7฿1,788
108.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46€40.01
$26.77฿875
73.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.0
$85.0฿2,778
24.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144€124
$70.6฿2,308
104.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,759
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Viljandi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.1
5
2.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Viljandi: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Viljandi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 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
Viljandi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Viljandi or Chiang Mai?
Viljandi costs about 46% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,893 per month in Viljandi and $1,300 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Viljandi and $19.00 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% 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 $800/month in Viljandi or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,262 in Viljandi and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Viljandi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,262 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 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.