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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,518 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,483 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,447 in Selfoss, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 76% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Selfoss is 164% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$20.10 ISK 2,498

-60.85%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$11.98 ISK 1,489

-82.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.73 ISK 214

-4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$7.26 ISK 902

-78.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$4.43 ISK 551

-73.14%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$6.17 ISK 766

-67.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$16.57 ISK 2,059

-1.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$20.62 ISK 2,562

-84.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$32.37 ISK 4,022

-66.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$2.74 ISK 340

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$2.57 ISK 320

-52.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$2.62 ISK 326

-37.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$7.12 ISK 885

-78.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$3.09 ISK 384

-56.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$2.07 ISK 257

-41.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$3.48 ISK 432

-80.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$1.34 ISK 166

-57.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$15.27 ISK 1,897

-69.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$1.14 ISK 141

178.95%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$2,897 ISK 359.9K

-91.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: June 15, 2026

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 Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 315% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,278 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $3,518 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 108% more in Selfoss, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $3,518 in Selfoss, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $3,518 in Selfoss. 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, Selfoss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.