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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,780 in Ilulissat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,041 in Ilulissat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,303 in Ilulissat, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 69% cheaper than Ilulissat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Ilulissat is 108% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$22.82 DKK 149

-91.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$88.8 DKK 581

-79.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$18.89 DKK 124

-60.40%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.09 DKK 26.77

-50.61%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.57 DKK 10.30

-45.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$2.86 DKK 18.73

-87.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$13.14 DKK 86.0

-83.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$7.02 DKK 45.91

-48.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$3.02 DKK 19.77

-45.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$5.53 DKK 36.15

-71.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$4.40 DKK 28.78

-72.95%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.75 DKK 24.51

-48.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$34.04 DKK 223

-52.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$39.72 DKK 260

-92.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$26.61 DKK 174

-58.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$6.33 DKK 41.43

-57.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$5.51 DKK 36.02

-78.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$6.15 DKK 40.23

-72.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$4.75 DKK 31.10

-66.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$3.96 DKK 25.93

-65.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$5.58 DKK 36.52

-78.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$6.86 DKK 44.89

-90.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$3.03 DKK 19.82

-81.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$13.65 DKK 89.3

-66.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$22.42 DKK 147

-21.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.01 DKK 13.12

-7.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$4.18 DKK 27.33

-21.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$3.78 DKK 24.74

-76.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$93.6 DKK 612

-79.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.14 DKK 20.52

-56.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.56 DKK 49.46

8.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.75 DKK 4.92

62.67%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$41.1K DKK 269.1K

-48.10%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$14.2K DKK 93.0K

58.54%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$267 DKK 1,749

-73.57%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$67.8 DKK 443

-79.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$184 DKK 1,202

-90.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$7.55 DKK 49.37

458.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$18.32 DKK 120

-67.69%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$623 DKK 4,072

-50.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$10.7K DKK 70.0K

38.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$169 DKK 1,107

-67.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$55.0 DKK 360

-52.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$170 DKK 1,112

-51.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$229 DKK 1,498

-69.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$500 DKK 3,270

-13.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$636 DKK 4,160

-62.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$909 DKK 5,949

-9.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$876 DKK 5,732

-41.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,839 DKK 25.1K

-50.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$4,184 DKK 27.4K

-64.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$2,016 DKK 13.2K

-71.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.95

1.01%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ilulissat: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $500 in Ilulissat. 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 248% higher in Ilulissat, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $89.0 in Ilulissat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $762 – 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 Ilulissat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilulissat costs about 223% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,169 in Ilulissat. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $623 in Ilulissat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 213% more in Ilulissat, 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 $861, than in Ilulissat at $2,780. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilulissat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $2,780 in Ilulissat. 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, Ilulissat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.