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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,060 in Ikeja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,652 in Ikeja, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,243 in Ikeja, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Ikeja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ikeja are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Ikeja 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.2

$1.54 ₦2,097

31.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿629

$33.13 ₦45.2K

-43.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿263

$5.24 ₦7,146

49.62%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.7

$2.18 ₦2,974

-11.47%

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

$0.83 ฿27.92

$0.36 ₦495

130.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.77

$0.20 ₦272

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.6

$0.78 ₦1,067

184.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.37 ₦1,870

176.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.3

$2.12 ₦2,894

-22.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.1

$1.19 ₦1,615

30.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$2.33 ₦3,179

-49.36%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.7

$1.77 ₦2,411

13.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿543

$6.31 ₦8,599

156.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$4.12 ₦5,620

-26.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿364

$5.43 ₦7,397

99.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$3.55 ₦4,843

-24.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.03

$2.01 ₦2,741

-39.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.6

$2.17 ₦2,959

-24.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.3

$2.40 ₦3,274

-36.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$2.29 ₦3,123

-41.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.75

$1.94 ₦2,650

-37.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.57

$1.98 ₦2,696

-64.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.65

$0.36 ₦489

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿157

$1.31 ₦1,782

258.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿595

$2.56 ₦3,495

591.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.0

$0.68 ₦921

172.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$0.95 ₦1,288

237.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.93

$0.34 ₦467

161.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿630

$9.91 ₦13.5K

89.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.27

$1.19 ₦1,623

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.40

$2.13 ₦2,909

-39.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$4.65 ₦6,341

67.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.47

$0.39 ₦528

230.77%

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

$21.8K ฿731.4K

$20.5K ₦27.9M

6.36%

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

$21.7K ฿728.8K

$20.7K ₦28.2M

4.82%

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

$70.0 ฿2,351

$41.90 ₦57.1K

67.02%

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

$14.19 ฿477

$10.30 ₦14.0K

37.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿585

$34.23 ₦46.6K

-49.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,399

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿194

$6.45 ₦8,783

-10.39%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$84.2 ₦114.8K

255.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿487.9K

$2,291 ₦3.1M

533.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,860

$19.00 ₦25.9K

191.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿884

$25.00 ₦34.1K

5.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,851

$65.8 ₦89.7K

28.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,368

$57.8 ₦78.7K

22.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$840 ₦1.1M

-49.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,898

$597 ₦814.2K

-60.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$1,925 ₦2.6M

-58.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.3K

$1,209 ₦1.6M

-57.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.7K

$71.1 ₦96.9K

724.47%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $840 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 724% 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 – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $189 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 25% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,591 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 $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $84.2 in Ikeja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% 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 $847, than in Ikeja at $1,060. 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 $847 versus $1,060 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.