Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ikeja

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,409 in Ikeja, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ikeja outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
116

Cost of Living Index in Ikeja
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Ikeja Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Ikeja

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$2,409

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Ikeja

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Ikeja actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,409 in Ikeja, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Ikeja $2,409

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,149 in Ikeja, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Ikeja $4,149

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,890 in Ikeja, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Ikeja $5,890

Chiang Mai is about 61% cheaper than Ikeja, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Ikeja is 78% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$0.54 ₦717

294.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿626

$11.14 ₦14.9K

67.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿188

$7.50 ₦10.0K

-25.33%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.86 ₦3,818

-41.96%

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

$0.65 ฿21.75

$0.14 ₦190

364.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.25

$0.07 ₦96.1

328.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.1

$0.31 ₦420

648.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.05 ₦2,740

79.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.76 ₦1,019

165.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.34

$0.72 ₦956

95.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.79

$1.21 ₦1,619

14.88%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.6

$2.23 ₦2,984

6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿555

$3.58 ₦4,787

361.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿89.8

$3.96 ₦5,292

-32.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿303

$4.34 ₦5,799

107.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.6

$1.62 ₦2,161

48.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.01

$1.27 ₦1,703

-18.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.8

$1.14 ₦1,524

45.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$1.48 ₦1,978

5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.61

$1.54 ₦2,058

-19.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.53

$1.57 ₦2,094

-30.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.61

$0.85 ₦1,133

-10.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.29

$0.39 ₦527

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$0.54 ₦724

662.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿603

$2.36 ₦3,156

659.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.6

$0.53 ₦713

205.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.9

$0.46 ₦618

513.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.42

$0.12 ₦154

675.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,778

$3.45 ₦4,616

1433.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.56

$0.65 ₦875

81.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.76

$0.90 ₦1,202

-81.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$2.19 ₦2,929

-17.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.51

$0.14 ₦186

950.00%

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

$21.0K ฿706.4K

$11.0K ₦14.7M

91.45%

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

$26.5K ฿891.4K

$28.6K ₦38.3M

-7.35%

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

$62.6 ฿2,103

$111 ₦147.9K

-43.46%

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

$11.60 ฿390

$14.89 ₦19.9K

-22.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿683

$32.93 ₦44.0K

-38.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿219

$6.07 ₦8,114

7.25%

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

$727 ฿24.4K

$659 ₦881.4K

10.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿557.2K

$19.4K ₦26.0M

-14.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,800

$14.80 ₦19.8K

261.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿834

$17.73 ₦23.7K

39.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,039

$35.66 ₦47.7K

153.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,420

$49.16 ₦65.7K

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$3,536 ₦4.7M

-86.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.4K

$1,985 ₦2.7M

-84.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.6K

$6,548 ₦8.8M

-83.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.1K

$5,077 ₦6.8M

-87.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.0K

$74.2 ₦99.1K

702.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.39

-69.71%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Ikeja

$2K 82.4% 541% $1.7K

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Ikeja

$124 5.1% 47.6% $113

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Ikeja

$53 2.2% 51.2% $56

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Ikeja

$158 6.6% 67.7% $64

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Ikeja

$68 2.8% 11.8% $9

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Ikeja

$9.1 0.4% 84.6% $50

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Ikeja

$12 * 0.5% 76.1% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $3,536 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 in Chiang Mai are about 8 times higher, 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 in Chiang Mai versus $11 in Ikeja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $124 – making Ikeja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇬 Ikeja

🕒 Local time

06:28 6:28 AM

00:28 12:28 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

861,300

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.48 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.64 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1,337 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.48 USD). 1 EUR = 1,505 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.64 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Ikeja 10,360 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Ikeja

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 158% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,614 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $3,536 in Ikeja.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $659 in Ikeja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 48% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $2,409 in Ikeja. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $2,409 in Ikeja. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.