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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,056 in Ikeja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,641 in Ikeja, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,227 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

$1.95 ฿62.8

$1.50 ₦2,024

30.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$32.42 ₦43.7K

-43.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$5.26 ₦7,096

42.59%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$2.20 ₦2,962

-12.27%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.34 ₦456

129.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.20 ₦270

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$0.85 ₦1,140

152.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$1.44 ₦1,947

157.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$2.11 ₦2,853

-18.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$1.24 ₦1,674

25.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$2.33 ₦3,144

-49.36%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.76 ₦2,370

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$6.25 ₦8,432

156.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$4.16 ₦5,608

-23.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$5.30 ₦7,154

106.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$3.60 ₦4,851

-26.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$2.03 ₦2,742

-42.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$2.10 ₦2,833

-21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$2.37 ₦3,192

-35.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$2.38 ₦3,206

-42.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$2.01 ₦2,706

-41.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$2.00 ₦2,693

-67.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.35 ₦477

45.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$1.26 ₦1,705

258.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$3.14 ₦4,232

483.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$0.64 ₦857

181.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$0.95 ₦1,276

234.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.31 ₦425

190.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$9.91 ₦13.4K

91.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.24 ₦1,667

13.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$2.15 ₦2,899

-39.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$4.61 ₦6,221

75.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$0.38 ₦515

236.84%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$20.2K ₦27.2M

5.66%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$20.9K ₦28.2M

3.97%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$41.16 ₦55.5K

68.12%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$10.05 ₦13.6K

39.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$33.91 ₦45.7K

-47.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$6.47 ₦8,728

-8.50%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$83.2 ₦112.2K

259.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$2,341 ₦3.2M

534.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$19.37 ₦26.1K

190.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$24.74 ₦33.4K

8.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$63.4 ₦85.5K

33.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$58.1 ₦78.4K

23.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$845 ₦1.1M

-48.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$614 ₦827.9K

-60.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$1,906 ₦2.6M

-58.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$1,195 ₦1.6M

-58.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$126 ₦169.6K

399.57%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $845 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 400% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $32 in Ikeja. Groceries tell a different story – $244 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 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,583 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $83.2 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 $845, than in Ikeja at $1,056. 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 $845 versus $1,056 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.