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 $3,325 in Iginniarfik, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,770 in Iginniarfik, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,215 in Iginniarfik, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 74% cheaper than Iginniarfik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Iginniarfik is 148% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$22.95 DKK 146

-91.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$110 DKK 705

-82.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$15.59 DKK 99.5

-49.20%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$6.13 DKK 39.11

-68.84%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$3.04 DKK 19.42

-72.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$3.13 DKK 19.94

-88.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$10.75 DKK 68.6

-79.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$8.37 DKK 53.4

-54.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.12 DKK 19.92

-47.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.83 DKK 24.45

-57.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$5.56 DKK 35.45

-78.78%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$5.50 DKK 35.07

-63.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$30.65 DKK 196

-48.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$21.25 DKK 136

-85.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$22.86 DKK 146

-52.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$5.53 DKK 35.25

-52.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$4.52 DKK 28.87

-73.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$5.39 DKK 34.37

-68.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$4.70 DKK 30.00

-66.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$3.86 DKK 24.61

-65.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$4.73 DKK 30.17

-75.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$6.38 DKK 40.73

-89.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$3.19 DKK 20.37

-82.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$14.15 DKK 90.3

-67.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$23.28 DKK 149

-21.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$6.24 DKK 39.79

-70.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.93 DKK 25.10

-17.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$3.96 DKK 25.26

-77.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$90.2 DKK 575

-78.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.45 DKK 22.00

-60.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$7.96 DKK 50.8

3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.07 DKK 6.80

18.69%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$39.4K DKK 251.1K

-46.25%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$12.4K DKK 78.8K

81.95%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$314 DKK 2,004

-77.66%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$78.1 DKK 498

-82.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$153 DKK 979

-88.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$55.4 DKK 353

-24.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$22.95 DKK 146

-74.81%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$609 DKK 3,884

-49.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$10.9K DKK 69.6K

35.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$158 DKK 1,006

-65.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$31.37 DKK 200

-16.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$107 DKK 683

-21.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$228 DKK 1,457

-69.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$1,521 DKK 9,703

-72.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$1,328 DKK 8,471

-82.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$2,069 DKK 13.2K

-60.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,763 DKK 11.3K

-70.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$6,393 DKK 40.8K

-67.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$5,274 DKK 33.6K

-71.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$3,862 DKK 24.6K

-83.55%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Iginniarfik: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,521 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 508% 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 $110 in Iginniarfik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $651 – 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 290% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,987 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $609 in Iginniarfik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 168% 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 $852, than in Iginniarfik at $3,325. 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 $852 versus $3,325 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.