Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Selfoss

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,416 in Selfoss, rent and utilities included – about $29,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Selfoss

🇮🇸 Iceland

$3,416

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Selfoss

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Selfoss actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,416 in Selfoss, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Selfoss $3,416

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,439 in Selfoss, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Selfoss $2,439

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,461 in Selfoss, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Selfoss $1,461

Chiang Mai is about 73% cheaper than Selfoss, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Selfoss is 151% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$20.39 ISK 2,477

-72.78%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

$12.18 ISK 1,480

-80.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$1.77 ISK 215

10.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$7.65 ISK 930

-81.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$4.55 ISK 553

-70.77%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$6.49 ISK 788

-64.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$17.25 ISK 2,096

-4.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$21.56 ISK 2,619

-87.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$33.60 ISK 4,082

-72.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$2.83 ISK 343

-16.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$2.70 ISK 328

-64.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$2.72 ISK 330

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$7.25 ISK 881

-79.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$3.24 ISK 394

-60.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$2.07 ISK 252

-46.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$3.70 ISK 449

-80.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$1.34 ISK 163

-63.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$15.61 ISK 1,897

-73.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$1.15 ISK 140

141.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

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

$12.17 ฿410

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$2,771 ISK 336.6K

-88.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Selfoss

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Selfoss

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Selfoss

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Selfoss

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Selfoss

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Selfoss

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Selfoss

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇸 Selfoss

🕒 Local time

08:55 8:55 AM

01:55 1:55 AM

7 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

9,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.39 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 135 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.39 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Selfoss 9,490 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Selfoss

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 265% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,124 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $3,416 in Selfoss. That makes Chiang Mai about 73% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 123% more in Selfoss, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $3,416 in Selfoss. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $3,416 in Selfoss. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.