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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,430 in Iginniarfik, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,822 in Iginniarfik, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,215 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 157% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$23.69 DKK 153

-91.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$110 DKK 708

-83.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$15.59 DKK 100

-49.52%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$6.14 DKK 39.51

-68.24%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$3.15 DKK 20.25

-73.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$3.02 DKK 19.44

-89.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$10.93 DKK 70.4

-80.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$8.42 DKK 54.2

-56.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$3.08 DKK 19.85

-46.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$3.86 DKK 24.86

-59.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$5.44 DKK 35.04

-78.12%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$5.71 DKK 36.78

-65.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$31.45 DKK 202

-48.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$21.27 DKK 137

-85.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$22.89 DKK 147

-52.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$5.42 DKK 34.88

-51.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$4.67 DKK 30.08

-73.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$5.49 DKK 35.35

-69.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$4.75 DKK 30.60

-67.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$3.91 DKK 25.17

-65.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$4.71 DKK 30.33

-74.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$6.18 DKK 39.76

-89.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$3.12 DKK 20.05

-81.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$13.98 DKK 90.0

-66.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$23.51 DKK 151

-27.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$6.43 DKK 41.40

-71.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$3.78 DKK 24.33

-15.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$3.93 DKK 25.26

-76.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$89.1 DKK 574

-78.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$3.35 DKK 21.57

-57.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$7.87 DKK 50.7

3.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.12 DKK 7.22

14.29%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$39.2K DKK 252.3K

-44.32%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$12.5K DKK 80.2K

79.83%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$307 DKK 1,979

-77.07%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$78.4 DKK 505

-82.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$153 DKK 982

-88.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$54.2 DKK 349

-23.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$23.57 DKK 152

-74.71%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$623 DKK 4,011

-51.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$10.8K DKK 69.8K

37.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$156 DKK 1,001

-64.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$31.04 DKK 200

-15.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$109 DKK 702

-21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$232 DKK 1,496

-70.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$1,518 DKK 9,770

-71.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$1,328 DKK 8,547

-82.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$2,030 DKK 13.1K

-60.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$1,791 DKK 11.5K

-71.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$6,322 DKK 40.7K

-67.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$5,182 DKK 33.4K

-71.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$3,739 DKK 24.1K

-83.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.33

-31.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Iginniarfik: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $1,518 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 501% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $110 in Iginniarfik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $654 – 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

Iginniarfik costs about 305% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,144 in Iginniarfik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $623 in Iginniarfik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 170% more in Iginniarfik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $848, than in Iginniarfik at $3,430. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iginniarfik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $3,430 in Iginniarfik. 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 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.