🙂A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,018 in Njardvik, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,734 in Njardvik, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,450 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 126% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿63.6
$24.39ISK 3,031
-91.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿598
$96.0ISK 11.9K
-80.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿256
$15.99ISK 1,987
-50.78%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.4
$6.06ISK 754
-67.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.57
$1.65ISK 205
-48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.52
$2.40ISK 299
-86.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿69.6
$10.52ISK 1,307
-79.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿120
$11.42ISK 1,419
-67.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿53.9
$1.89ISK 235
-12.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.7
$4.28ISK 532
-63.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.63
$3.68ISK 458
-67.66%
Eggs
$1.99฿64.7
$6.28ISK 780
-68.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿528
$18.15ISK 2,256
-10.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿103
$24.01ISK 2,983
-86.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿352
$42.52ISK 5,283
-74.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿86.2
$3.30ISK 410
-19.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.67
$2.50ISK 311
-51.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.7
$3.07ISK 381
-46.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.3
$4.89ISK 608
-68.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.17
$3.65ISK 453
-63.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.43
$2.39ISK 297
-49.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.04
$3.06ISK 380
-77.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.38
$1.94ISK 241
-70.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿152
$13.42ISK 1,668
-65.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿552
$23.21ISK 2,883
-26.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.3
$3.57ISK 444
-49.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿103
$3.35ISK 416
-5.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿609
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.80
$6.32ISK 785
-77.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.52
$2.52ISK 313
-46.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿265
$86.6ISK 10.8K
-90.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.53
$2.52ISK 313
-49.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿709.3K
$47.5KISK 5.9M
-54.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿728.0K
$53.0KISK 6.6M
-57.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,291
$88.7ISK 11.0K
-20.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿457
$27.86ISK 3,461
-49.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿574
$84.4ISK 10.5K
-79.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,342
$80.1ISK 9,946
-48.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿194
$17.26ISK 2,144
-65.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,846
$319ISK 39.6K
-4.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿486.2K
$30.0KISK 3.7M
-50.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,778
$119ISK 14.8K
-54.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿854
$61.9ISK 7,690
-57.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,788
$179ISK 22.3K
-52.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,265
$261ISK 32.5K
-73.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿13.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,769
$1,470ISK 182.6K
-83.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.6K
$2,657ISK 330.1K
-80.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿65.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿48.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Njardvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.2K
$3,979ISK 494.3K
-84.35%
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Njardvik: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 539% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $96.0 in Njardvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 256% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,527 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $96.0 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 145% 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 $848, than in Njardvik at $3,018. 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 $848 versus $3,018 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