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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,056 per month in Ikeja vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,641 per month in Ikeja vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,227 per month in Ikeja vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ikeja costs about 25% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ikeja and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ikeja 21% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 ₦2,024

$1.95 ฿62.8

-23.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.42 ₦43.7K

$18.43 ฿594

75.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ₦7,096

$7.50 ฿241

-29.87%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ₦2,962

$1.93 ฿62.3

13.99%

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

$0.34 ₦456

$0.78 ฿25.08

-56.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₦270

$0.32 ฿10.42

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₦1,140

$2.15 ฿69.2

-60.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₦1,947

$3.71 ฿120

-61.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₦2,853

$1.71 ฿55.2

23.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₦1,674

$1.56 ฿50.3

-20.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,144

$1.18 ฿38.06

97.46%

Eggs

$1.76 ₦2,370

$1.98 ฿63.9

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 ₦8,432

$16.04 ฿517

-61.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₦5,608

$3.17 ฿102

31.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,154

$10.94 ฿353

-51.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.60 ₦4,851

$2.63 ฿84.7

36.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₦2,742

$1.17 ฿37.61

73.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ₦2,833

$1.65 ฿53.0

27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,192

$1.54 ฿49.51

53.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 ₦3,206

$1.38 ฿44.34

72.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 ₦2,706

$1.17 ฿37.54

71.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₦2,693

$0.66 ฿21.25

203.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₦477

$0.51 ฿16.55

-31.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ₦1,705

$4.52 ฿146

-72.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.14 ₦4,232

$18.32 ฿590

-82.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₦857

$1.80 ฿57.9

-64.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₦1,276

$3.18 ฿102

-70.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₦425

$0.90 ฿28.97

-65.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.91 ₦13.4K

$19.00 ฿612

-47.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ₦1,667

$1.41 ฿45.50

-12.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 ₦2,899

$1.31 ฿42.15

64.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 ₦6,221

$8.09 ฿261

-43.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 ₦515

$1.28 ฿41.08

-70.31%

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

$20.2K ₦27.2M

$21.3K ฿686.1K

-5.36%

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

$20.9K ₦28.2M

$21.7K ฿699.3K

-3.82%

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

$41.16 ₦55.5K

$69.2 ฿2,230

-40.52%

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

$10.05 ₦13.6K

$13.97 ฿450

-28.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.91 ₦45.7K

$17.95 ฿578

88.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ₦8,728

$5.92 ฿191

9.29%

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

$83.2 ₦112.2K

$299 ฿9,640

-72.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,341 ₦3.2M

$14.8K ฿478.4K

-84.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.37 ₦26.1K

$56.2 ฿1,810

-65.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ₦33.4K

$26.94 ฿868

-8.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 ₦85.5K

$84.9 ฿2,735

-25.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 ₦78.4K

$71.8 ฿2,314

-19.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 ₦1.1M

$435 ฿14.0K

94.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$614 ₦827.9K

$240 ฿7,727

155.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 ₦2.6M

$798 ฿25.7K

138.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 ₦1.6M

$498 ฿16.1K

139.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 ₦169.6K

$628 ฿20.2K

-79.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

226.60%

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

Last update for Ikeja: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $845 in Ikeja versus $435 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 400% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Ikeja versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Ikeja vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Ikeja wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Ikeja vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ikeja costs about 25% 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 $1,583 per month in Ikeja and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $83.2 per month in Ikeja and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Ikeja at $1,056. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,056 in Ikeja. 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, Ikeja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.