🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,074 in Njardvik, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,807 in Njardvik, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,541 in Njardvik, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 72% cheaper than Njardvik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Njardvik is 130% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$24.55ISK 3,006
-92.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$95.1ISK 11.6K
-80.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$16.24ISK 1,988
-51.23%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$6.13ISK 751
-68.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$1.64ISK 201
-48.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$2.43ISK 297
-85.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$10.35ISK 1,267
-78.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$11.45ISK 1,402
-66.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.94ISK 238
-15.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$4.18ISK 512
-61.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$3.72ISK 455
-68.28%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$6.48ISK 793
-68.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$17.99ISK 2,202
-11.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$23.66ISK 2,897
-87.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$42.52ISK 5,207
-74.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$3.25ISK 398
-19.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$2.50ISK 306
-51.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$3.00ISK 368
-43.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$4.92ISK 603
-67.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$3.69ISK 451
-64.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$2.31ISK 283
-49.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$3.15ISK 385
-78.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$2.00ISK 245
-72.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$13.51ISK 1,655
-66.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$23.29ISK 2,852
-21.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$3.73ISK 457
-50.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$3.26ISK 399
-0.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$6.23ISK 762
-78.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$2.57ISK 315
-47.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$87.6ISK 10.7K
-90.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$2.45ISK 300
-48.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$47.5KISK 5.8M
-55.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$51.3KISK 6.3M
-56.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$87.6ISK 10.7K
-19.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$27.85ISK 3,409
-50.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$86.0ISK 10.5K
-79.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$79.0ISK 9,671
-47.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$17.41ISK 2,131
-66.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$315ISK 38.6K
-2.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$30.4KISK 3.7M
-51.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$119ISK 14.5K
-54.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$61.3ISK 7,505
-57.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$181ISK 22.2K
-53.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$269ISK 32.9K
-74.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$1,456ISK 178.3K
-83.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$2,643ISK 323.7K
-80.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$3,981ISK 487.5K
-84.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
9.63
-48.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Njardvik: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 527% higher in Njardvik, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $95.0 in Njardvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $594 – 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 Njardvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Njardvik?
Njardvik costs about 261% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Njardvik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,611 in Njardvik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Njardvik?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $95.0 in Njardvik. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Njardvik?
Groceries cost about 144% more in Njardvik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Njardvik?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Njardvik at $3,074. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Njardvik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Njardvik?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,074 in Njardvik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Njardvik?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Njardvik?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Njardvik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared