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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,037 in Ikeja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,658 in Ikeja, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,280 in Ikeja, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Ikeja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ikeja are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ikeja 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$1.50 ₦2,038

32.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$32.81 ₦44.6K

-42.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$5.29 ₦7,176

46.50%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$2.10 ₦2,847

-8.57%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$0.33 ₦452

139.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$0.20 ₦271

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$0.80 ₦1,086

176.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$1.45 ₦1,969

152.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$2.19 ₦2,974

-24.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$1.24 ₦1,682

31.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$2.26 ₦3,069

-47.35%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$1.71 ₦2,316

16.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$6.22 ₦8,448

156.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$4.20 ₦5,708

-27.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$5.43 ₦7,369

100.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$3.49 ₦4,735

-20.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$2.05 ₦2,778

-42.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$2.17 ₦2,952

-24.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$2.37 ₦3,222

-35.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$2.29 ₦3,110

-39.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$2.03 ₦2,759

-41.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$2.02 ₦2,741

-65.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.36 ₦483

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$1.29 ₦1,757

255.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$2.53 ₦3,440

554.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$0.69 ₦932

165.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$0.90 ₦1,217

255.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$0.31 ₦428

183.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$9.93 ₦13.5K

88.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$1.24 ₦1,682

9.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$2.16 ₦2,932

-37.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$4.60 ₦6,248

70.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$0.39 ₦525

215.38%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$20.1K ₦27.3M

7.42%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$20.8K ₦28.2M

8.55%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$41.16 ₦55.9K

71.38%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$10.23 ₦13.9K

33.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$33.71 ₦45.8K

-48.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$6.48 ₦8,804

-10.96%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$81.9 ₦111.2K

274.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$2,268 ₦3.1M

544.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$19.03 ₦25.8K

193.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$24.91 ₦33.8K

5.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$63.6 ₦86.4K

34.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$56.5 ₦76.7K

27.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$827 ₦1.1M

-48.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$615 ₦834.7K

-61.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$1,930 ₦2.6M

-57.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$1,198 ₦1.6M

-57.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$73.8 ₦100.2K

738.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

-69.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $827 in Ikeja. 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 738% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Ikeja. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $190 in Ikeja – so Ikeja wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ikeja costs about 19% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,555 in Ikeja. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $81.9 in Ikeja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Ikeja at $1,037. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,037 in Ikeja. 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, Ikeja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.