Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Egilsstadir

For one person, living is cheaper in Egilsstadir: $623 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chiang Mai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$906

/mo nomad

Egilsstadir

🇮🇸 Iceland

$623

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Egilsstadir

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Egilsstadir actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $623 in Egilsstadir, rent included.

Chiang Mai $906
Egilsstadir $623

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,044 in Egilsstadir, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,385
Egilsstadir $1,044

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,465 in Egilsstadir, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,864
Egilsstadir $1,465

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Egilsstadir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Egilsstadir are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Egilsstadir 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿649

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿183

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.4

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

$0.66 ฿22.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿125

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿68.9

$1.70 ISK 207

21.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿48.78

$2.85 ISK 348

-48.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.09

$2.48 ISK 302

-45.56%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.0

$5.85 ISK 713

-61.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿546

$22.28 ISK 2,717

-26.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.3

$33.23 ISK 4,052

-91.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿308

$43.56 ISK 5,312

-78.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.1

$2.70 ISK 329

-11.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.66

$2.45 ISK 298

-57.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.7

$2.54 ISK 310

-37.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.37

$3.85 ISK 469

-62.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.59

$4.40 ISK 536

-70.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.29

$2.11 ISK 257

-47.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.55

$2.20 ISK 268

-68.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.99

$2.22 ISK 271

-77.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$22.37 ISK 2,728

-20.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.7

$3.99 ISK 487

-59.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.0

$3.56 ISK 434

-19.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,780

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.81

$6.11 ISK 745

-80.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.2

$2.33 ISK 284

-35.62%

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

$20.9K ฿698.3K

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

$26.7K ฿895.0K

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

$61.3 ฿2,051

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

$12.50 ฿419

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿682

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,270

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿221

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

$774 ฿25.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿483.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,835

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿846

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,032

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,453

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,835

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Egilsstadir: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$294 31.8%

Egilsstadir

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$236 25.6%

Egilsstadir

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.9%

Egilsstadir

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Egilsstadir

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.4%

Egilsstadir

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Egilsstadir

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Egilsstadir

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇸 Egilsstadir

🕒 Local time

17:45 5:45 PM

10:45 10:45 AM

7 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

2,500

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1,000 ISK = 8.2 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.32 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.2 USD). 1 EUR = 137 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.32 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Egilsstadir 9,140 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Egilsstadir

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Egilsstadir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Egilsstadir, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $935 in Egilsstadir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $906 in Chiang Mai and $623 in Egilsstadir. That's a gap of about 45%.

Interestingly, groceries are about 165% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Egilsstadir, where all-in costs run around $623, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Egilsstadir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Egilsstadir costs $623 versus $906 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Egilsstadir. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.