🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,369 in Iginniarfik, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,791 in Iginniarfik, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,213 in Iginniarfik, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 75% cheaper than Iginniarfik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Iginniarfik is 153% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$23.62DKK 153
-91.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$108DKK 701
-82.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$15.77DKK 102
-50.16%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$6.38DKK 41.30
-68.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$3.02DKK 19.53
-73.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$3.12DKK 20.23
-88.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$11.07DKK 71.7
-80.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$8.69DKK 56.3
-57.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$3.15DKK 20.42
-45.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$4.00DKK 25.87
-60.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$5.33DKK 34.53
-77.49%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$5.47DKK 35.44
-63.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$30.54DKK 198
-46.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$21.16DKK 137
-85.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$22.98DKK 149
-53.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$5.30DKK 34.34
-47.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$4.54DKK 29.37
-74.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$5.36DKK 34.68
-68.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$4.53DKK 29.36
-64.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$3.90DKK 25.24
-64.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$4.68DKK 30.31
-75.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$6.14DKK 39.75
-89.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$3.19DKK 20.64
-83.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$14.06DKK 91.1
-66.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$22.44DKK 145
-20.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$6.25DKK 40.50
-71.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$3.94DKK 25.50
-15.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$3.98DKK 25.76
-77.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$91.8DKK 594
-79.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$3.42DKK 22.15
-58.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$7.63DKK 49.42
6.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.07DKK 6.92
14.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$38.5KDKK 249.3K
-44.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$12.4KDKK 80.2K
76.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$315DKK 2,039
-77.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$76.6DKK 496
-81.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$157DKK 1,014
-88.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$54.1DKK 350
-24.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$23.58DKK 153
-75.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$619DKK 4,009
-50.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$10.8KDKK 69.7K
36.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$157DKK 1,017
-64.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$30.56DKK 198
-14.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$111DKK 716
-23.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$232DKK 1,503
-69.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$1,520DKK 9,841
-72.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$1,304DKK 8,444
-81.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$2,003DKK 13.0K
-60.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$1,778DKK 11.5K
-71.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$6,046DKK 39.1K
-68.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$5,134DKK 33.2K
-71.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$3,683DKK 23.8K
-83.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
7.33
-31.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Iginniarfik: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $1,520 in Iginniarfik. 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 519% higher in Iginniarfik, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $108 in Iginniarfik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $647 – 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
Chiang Mai vs Iginniarfik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Iginniarfik?
Iginniarfik costs about 295% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Chiang Mai and in Iginniarfik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,053 in Iginniarfik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Iginniarfik?
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 Chiang Mai and in Iginniarfik?
Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $619 in Iginniarfik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Iginniarfik?
Groceries cost about 165% more in Iginniarfik, 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 Chiang Mai or in Iginniarfik?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Iginniarfik at $3,369. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iginniarfik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Iginniarfik?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,369 in Iginniarfik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Iginniarfik?
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 Chiang Mai or to Iginniarfik?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iginniarfik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared