Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilulissat and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $2,601 in Ilulissat, rent and utilities included – about $20,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ilulissat
🇬🇱 Greenland
$2,601
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $2,601 per month in Ilulissat vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ilulissat $2,601
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $3,918 per month in Ilulissat vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ilulissat $3,918
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $5,236 per month in Ilulissat vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Ilulissat $5,236
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Ilulissat costs about 181% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ilulissat sits 92% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.35 DKK 202
$2.29 ฿76.5
1225.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 DKK 732
$19.64 ฿656
460.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.49 DKK 123
$5.61 ฿188
229.59%
Cappuccino
$5.74 DKK 38.16
$1.66 ฿55.6
245.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70 ฿23.40
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 DKK 19.68
$0.31 ฿10.24
854.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.70 DKK 84.5
$2.41 ฿80.4
426.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 DKK 45.83
$3.71 ฿124
85.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.90 DKK 19.31
$1.95 ฿65.3
48.72%
White Bread (500g)
$5.08 DKK 33.81
$1.41 ฿47.03
260.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.23 DKK 28.12
$1.31 ฿43.62
222.90%
Eggs
-
$2.18 ฿72.9
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$33.32 DKK 222
$16.65 ฿556
100.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$38.11 DKK 253
$2.76 ฿92.2
1280.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.20 DKK 168
$9.11 ฿304
176.62%
Apples (1kg)
$5.84 DKK 38.85
$2.39 ฿80.0
144.35%
Banana (1kg)
$5.37 DKK 35.74
$1.03 ฿34.26
421.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.92 DKK 39.38
$1.63 ฿54.4
263.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 DKK 29.26
$1.50 ฿50.0
193.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 DKK 25.53
$1.29 ฿43.13
197.67%
Onion (1kg)
$5.30 DKK 35.27
$1.11 ฿37.03
377.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.75 DKK 44.91
$0.72 ฿24.08
837.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.06 DKK 20.35
$0.53 ฿17.59
477.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.31 ฿144
-
Wine (Bottle)
$22.16 DKK 147
$17.95 ฿600
23.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 ฿52.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 DKK 26.58
$2.84 ฿95.0
40.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.70 DKK 24.60
$0.86 ฿28.86
330.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.0 DKK 599
$53.3 ฿1,780
68.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 DKK 20.27
$1.21 ฿40.29
152.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$6.08 DKK 40.47
$0.57 ฿18.99
966.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.24 DKK 48.13
$2.35 ฿78.6
208.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 DKK 4.72
$1.44 ฿47.96
-50.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K DKK 260.8K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
89.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.3K DKK 88.4K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-50.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$254 DKK 1,688
$62.3 ฿2,083
307.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.8 DKK 424
$12.11 ฿405
426.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$180 DKK 1,195
$19.94 ฿666
801.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.07 ฿1,239
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.50 ฿217
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$590 DKK 3,923
$793 ฿26.5K
-25.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K DKK 69.0K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-29.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.7 ฿1,796
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 DKK 351
$24.62 ฿823
114.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 DKK 1,052
$90.9 ฿3,036
74.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$225 DKK 1,495
$71.1 ฿2,378
216.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$465 DKK 3,090
$455 ฿15.2K
2.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 DKK 4,020
$298 ฿9,954
102.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$868 DKK 5,771
$908 ฿30.4K
-4.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$840 DKK 5,587
$554 ฿18.5K
51.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,698 DKK 24.6K
$1,931 ฿64.5K
91.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,110 DKK 27.3K
$1,445 ฿48.3K
184.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilulissat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,023 DKK 13.5K
$591 ฿19.7K
242.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.95
5.57
-11.13%

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

Last update for Ilulissat: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ilulissat
$708 *
Chiang Mai
$235 66.7% $473
Accommodation & Living
Ilulissat
$605
Chiang Mai
$298 50.7% $307
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilulissat
$497
Chiang Mai
$94 81% $403
Eating Out
Ilulissat
$456 *
Chiang Mai
$79 82.8% $378
Clothing & Footwear
Ilulissat
$196 *
Chiang Mai
$108 44.8% $88
Getting Around
Ilulissat
$138
Chiang Mai
$61 56% $77
Sport & Entertainment
Ilulissat
- *
Chiang Mai
$50

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $465 in Ilulissat versus $455 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 242% higher in Ilulissat, 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 $110 in Ilulissat versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $708 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇱 Ilulissat
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
09:51 9:51 AM
17:51 5:51 PM
8 h ahead of Ilulissat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,700
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to DKK – Danish Krone Converter

Danish Krone exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 DKK (1 DKK = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.48 DKK (1 DKK = 0.134 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ilulissat Chiang Mai 9,940 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ilulissat
  • Chiang Mai

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
Ilulissat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ilulissat or Chiang Mai?
Ilulissat costs about 181% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ilulissat and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,901 per month in Ilulissat and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ilulissat or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Ilulissat and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $590 per month in Ilulissat and $793 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ilulissat or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 201% more in Ilulissat, 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 Ilulissat or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Ilulissat at $2,601. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilulissat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ilulissat or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $2,601 in Ilulissat. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ilulissat compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Ilulissat or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ilulissat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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