😐A single person spends $2,091 per month in Izegem vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,197 per month in Izegem vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,303 per month in Izegem vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Izegem costs about 145% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Izegem sits 56% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.91€19.57
$1.96฿63.6
1068.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$115€98.1
$18.81฿611
510.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.57€10.74
$7.92฿258
58.71%
Cappuccino
$4.08€3.48
$1.91฿62.2
113.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.85
$0.84฿27.25
296.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.71
$0.35฿11.44
805.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.42€4.63
$2.21฿71.7
145.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.00
$3.80฿124
23.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.16
$1.64฿53.2
-17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.76€2.36
$1.62฿52.8
70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65€2.27
$1.18฿38.40
124.58%
Eggs
$3.98€3.40
$2.01฿65.4
98.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.51€14.95
$15.89฿517
10.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.03€10.27
$3.01฿98.0
299.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.51€19.22
$10.77฿350
109.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91€2.49
$2.61฿85.0
11.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41€2.06
$1.22฿39.65
97.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25€1.92
$1.70฿55.4
32.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.91
$1.58฿51.2
115.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.85€2.43
$1.32฿42.89
115.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37€2.02
$1.17฿38.01
102.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.25
$0.67฿21.85
117.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.76
$0.56฿18.21
58.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.96€11.06
$4.53฿147
186.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60€6.49
$18.20฿592
-58.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.50
$1.83฿59.6
-4.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.73
$3.23฿105
-37.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.50
$0.89฿28.83
228.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.7€49.31
$19.38฿630
197.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.95€5.08
$1.35฿43.95
340.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.55€2.18
$1.35฿43.79
88.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.05€39.33
$8.25฿268
458.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.56
$1.27฿41.40
43.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K€30.7K
$21.2K฿687.8K
69.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.2K
$22.5K฿731.0K
46.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208€177
$70.2฿2,281
195.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.59€21.85
$13.77฿448
85.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6€43.23
$17.60฿572
187.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.02€32.47
$41.57฿1,352
-8.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.64€14.21
$6.60฿215
152.12%
Cinema Ticket
$14.86€12.69
$5.78฿188
157.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$639€546
$306฿9,953
108.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.3K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-10.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110€93.6
$54.4฿1,768
101.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.78€41.65
$26.14฿850
86.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.2
$84.5฿2,748
37.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$230€196
$69.4฿2,257
230.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908€775
$424฿13.8K
114.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$742€634
$238฿7,743
211.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,367€1,168
$825฿26.8K
65.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081€923
$515฿16.7K
109.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,659€3,125
$2,049฿66.6K
78.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,446€2,089
$1,523฿49.5K
60.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izegem
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
5
-34.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Izegem: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $908 in Izegem versus $424 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Izegem versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $243 – 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
Izegem vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izegem or Chiang Mai?
Izegem costs about 145% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Izegem vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,136 per month in Izegem and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Izegem 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 Izegem and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $639 per month in Izegem and $306 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 Izegem or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Izegem, 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 Izegem or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Izegem at $2,091. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Izegem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izegem or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,091 in Izegem. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Izegem 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 Izegem or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Izegem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.