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 $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
$23.62 DKK 153
-91.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71 ฿624
$108 DKK 701
-82.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.86 ฿262
$15.77 DKK 102
-50.16%
Cappuccino
$2.03 ฿67.7
$6.38 DKK 41.30
-68.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ฿26.64
$3.02 DKK 19.53
-73.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.68
$3.12 DKK 20.23
-88.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.5
$11.07 DKK 71.7
-80.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿122
$8.69 DKK 56.3
-57.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.6
$3.15 DKK 20.42
-45.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$4.00 DKK 25.87
-60.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ฿39.99
$5.33 DKK 34.53
-77.49%
Eggs
$1.97 ฿65.8
$5.47 DKK 35.44
-63.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.23 ฿541
$30.54 DKK 198
-46.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 ฿102
$21.16 DKK 137
-85.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ฿360
$22.98 DKK 149
-53.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ฿92.3
$5.30 DKK 34.34
-47.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.94
$4.54 DKK 29.37
-74.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿57.0
$5.36 DKK 34.68
-68.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿53.2
$4.53 DKK 29.36
-64.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.51
$3.90 DKK 25.24
-64.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ฿38.56
$4.68 DKK 30.31
-75.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿22.05
$6.14 DKK 39.75
-89.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.31
$3.19 DKK 20.64
-83.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 ฿155
$14.06 DKK 91.1
-66.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿593
$22.44 DKK 145
-20.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿59.6
$6.25 DKK 40.50
-71.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ฿111
$3.94 DKK 25.50
-15.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿30.27
$3.98 DKK 25.76
-77.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.64 ฿622
$91.8 DKK 594
-79.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿47.04
$3.42 DKK 22.15
-58.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.11 ฿270
$7.63 DKK 49.42
6.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿41.16
$1.07 DKK 6.92
14.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿715.1K
$38.5K DKK 249.3K
-44.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿728.0K
$12.4K DKK 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
$315 DKK 2,039
-77.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01 ฿467
$76.6 DKK 496
-81.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93 ฿598
$157 DKK 1,014
-88.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.82 ฿1,362
$54.1 DKK 350
-24.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 ฿191
$23.58 DKK 153
-75.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿10.3K
$619 DKK 4,009
-50.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.7K
$10.8K DKK 69.7K
36.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,860
$157 DKK 1,017
-64.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04 ฿869
$30.56 DKK 198
-14.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 ฿2,829
$111 DKK 716
-23.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0 ฿2,368
$232 DKK 1,503
-69.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 ฿14.1K
$1,520 DKK 9,841
-72.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 ฿8,088
$1,304 DKK 8,444
-81.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$2,003 DKK 13.0K
-60.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$507 ฿16.9K
$1,778 DKK 11.5K
-71.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,918 ฿64.0K
$6,046 DKK 39.1K
-68.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,464 ฿48.8K
$5,134 DKK 33.2K
-71.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Iginniarfik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$3,683 DKK 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

Similar cities