Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,053 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,047 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,042 per month in Iqaluit, NU vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Iqaluit, NU costs about 252% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Iqaluit, NU sits 128% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CA$43.33

$1.94 ฿63.5

1512.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.0

$18.64 ฿609

252.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.97 CA$17.96

$7.82 ฿255

65.86%

Cappuccino

$6.69 CA$9.26

$1.95 ฿63.8

243.08%

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

$3.99 CA$5.53

$0.85 ฿27.77

369.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$0.35 ฿11.58

380.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 CA$9.53

$2.13 ฿69.6

223.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.30

$3.73 ฿122

60.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$1.71 ฿56.0

42.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$1.63 ฿53.2

65.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$1.14 ฿37.15

163.16%

Eggs

$4.41 CA$6.11

$1.93 ฿63.1

128.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.17 CA$16.85

$16.21 ฿530

-24.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.86

$3.12 ฿102

336.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.77 CA$34.30

$10.90 ฿356

127.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$2.75 ฿90.0

-26.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.12

$1.21 ฿39.52

146.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$1.62 ฿53.0

21.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$1.59 ฿51.8

27.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$1.40 ฿45.70

111.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$1.17 ฿38.17

233.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 CA$4.14

$0.66 ฿21.60

353.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$0.53 ฿17.22

569.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.43 CA$19.98

$4.69 ฿153

207.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 CA$17.73

$18.66 ฿609

-31.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.80 ฿58.8

-18.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$3.23 ฿106

-32.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$0.90 ฿29.26

161.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 CA$200

$19.21 ฿628

650.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 CA$9.44

$1.41 ฿45.91

383.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$1.29 ฿42.12

-44.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.47 CA$35.26

$7.84 ฿256

224.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$50.5K CA$70.0K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

137.50%

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

$45.7K CA$63.3K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

105.72%

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

$119 CA$164

$69.1 ฿2,256

71.97%

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

$54.3 CA$75.2

$14.08 ฿460

285.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CA$77.9

$18.00 ฿588

212.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 CA$58.3

$41.06 ฿1,341

2.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 CA$30.49

$6.96 ฿227

216.38%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.77

$5.92 ฿193

43.58%

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

$1,019 CA$1,411

$299 ฿9,766

240.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,997 CA$5,534

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-73.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.0

$54.7 ฿1,787

14.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 CA$51.1

$26.77 ฿874

37.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$143

$85.0 ฿2,776

21.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$167

$70.6 ฿2,306

70.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 CA$2,336

$428 ฿14.0K

293.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 CA$2,169

$237 ฿7,752

560.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,136 CA$4,342

$801 ฿26.2K

291.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CA$2,545

$515 ฿16.8K

256.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,603 CA$6,373

$1,975 ฿64.5K

133.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,811 CA$5,277

$1,475 ฿48.2K

158.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,299 CA$5,952

$617 ฿20.2K

596.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

62.00%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU versus $428 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 596% higher in Iqaluit, NU, 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 $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $246 – 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

Iqaluit, NU vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iqaluit, NU costs about 252% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,580 per month in Iqaluit, NU and $1,300 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 $1,019 per month in Iqaluit, NU and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% more in Iqaluit, NU, 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 $866, than in Iqaluit, NU at $3,053. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iqaluit, NU it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU. 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, Iqaluit, NU makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.