Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Akranes Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Akranes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $3,536 in Akranes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $5,655 in Akranes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $7,774 in Akranes.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 76% less than in Akranes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Akranes is 166% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$26.91 ISK 3,326

-92.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$146 ISK 18.1K

-87.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$22.78 ISK 2,816

-65.50%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$5.95 ISK 736

-65.88%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ฿26.64

$3.25 ISK 402

-75.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$2.35 ISK 291

-85.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$10.47 ISK 1,294

-79.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$7.99 ISK 988

-54.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.93 ISK 238

-10.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$2.03 ISK 251

-22.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$3.59 ISK 443

-66.57%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$6.12 ISK 756

-67.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$17.79 ISK 2,198

-8.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$24.14 ISK 2,983

-87.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$41.83 ISK 5,170

-74.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.37 ISK 417

-17.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.51 ISK 311

-53.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.12 ISK 386

-45.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$4.80 ISK 593

-66.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$3.67 ISK 453

-62.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$2.31 ISK 286

-49.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$3.03 ISK 375

-78.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$2.00 ISK 247

-74.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$13.81 ISK 1,707

-66.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$22.94 ISK 2,835

-22.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.88 ISK 356

-37.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.05 ISK 253

62.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$3.56 ISK 440

-74.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$71.3 ISK 8,813

-73.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$6.30 ISK 778

-77.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.06 ISK 131

26.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$85.3 ISK 10.5K

-90.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.54 ISK 314

-51.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$46.8K ISK 5.8M

-54.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$52.5K ISK 6.5M

-58.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$71.3 ฿2,379

$88.4 ISK 10.9K

-19.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.01 ฿467

$27.48 ISK 3,396

-49.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$86.9 ISK 10.7K

-79.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$17.65 ISK 2,181

-67.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$308 ฿10.3K

$319 ISK 39.5K

-3.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

-50.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$139 ISK 17.2K

-59.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$62.5 ISK 7,729

-58.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$186 ISK 23.0K

-54.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$268 ISK 33.1K

-73.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$2,962 ISK 366.1K

-85.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$1,880 ISK 232.3K

-87.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$4,874 ISK 602.4K

-83.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$3,636 ISK 449.5K

-86.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$5,683 ISK 702.4K

-89.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

-48.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Akranes: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $2,962 in Akranes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akranes pays 855% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $146 in Akranes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $562 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

Chiang Mai vs Akranes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 315% lower than in Akranes. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 855% lower in Akranes. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $2,962 in Akranes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $3,536 in Akranes – a 315% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 283% less than in Akranes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $3,536 in Akranes, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Akranes. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $852 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Akranes are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 315% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.