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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,084 in Njardvik, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,824 in Njardvik, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,564 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 132% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$23.99 ISK 2,965

-91.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$97.5 ISK 12.1K

-80.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$16.12 ISK 1,993

-51.24%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$6.07 ISK 751

-66.56%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.63 ISK 202

-50.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$2.43 ISK 301

-85.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$10.60 ISK 1,310

-79.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$11.11 ISK 1,373

-66.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.86 ISK 230

-6.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$4.19 ISK 518

-62.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$3.56 ISK 440

-66.29%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$6.29 ISK 777

-68.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$18.07 ISK 2,233

-10.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$23.80 ISK 2,941

-87.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$42.65 ISK 5,272

-74.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$3.30 ISK 408

-16.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.41 ISK 298

-51.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.96 ISK 366

-42.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$5.14 ISK 636

-69.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$3.51 ISK 434

-60.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$2.44 ISK 302

-52.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$3.18 ISK 393

-79.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.94 ISK 240

-73.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$13.76 ISK 1,701

-66.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$23.07 ISK 2,851

-22.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$3.68 ISK 455

-51.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.38 ISK 417

-1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$6.47 ISK 800

-78.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.54 ISK 314

-47.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$85.6 ISK 10.6K

-90.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.56 ISK 317

-51.95%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$46.9K ISK 5.8M

-54.28%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$52.4K ISK 6.5M

-58.38%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$86.4 ISK 10.7K

-17.39%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$27.25 ISK 3,368

-48.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$86.4 ISK 10.7K

-79.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$79.4 ISK 9,814

-48.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$17.27 ISK 2,134

-66.88%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$325 ISK 40.2K

-5.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

-50.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$123 ISK 15.1K

-54.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$61.0 ISK 7,540

-57.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$183 ISK 22.6K

-53.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$268 ISK 33.1K

-73.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$1,466 ISK 181.1K

-83.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$2,609 ISK 322.5K

-80.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$3,915 ISK 483.9K

-84.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

-48.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Njardvik: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 558% 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 $98.0 in Njardvik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $592 – 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

Njardvik costs about 262% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,626 in Njardvik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $98.0 in Njardvik. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 143% more in Njardvik, 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 $852, than in Njardvik at $3,084. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Njardvik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,084 in Njardvik. 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, Njardvik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.