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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,826 per month in Keflavik vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,368 per month in Keflavik vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,910 per month in Keflavik vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Keflavik costs about 225% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Keflavik sits 110% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.41 ISK 3,039

$1.98 ฿64.3

1132.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.2K

$18.80 ฿612

679.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.33 ISK 2,531

$7.75 ฿252

162.32%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ISK 491

$1.92 ฿62.5

105.21%

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

$3.13 ISK 390

$0.79 ฿25.79

296.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ISK 314

$0.36 ฿11.62

602.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 ISK 1,011

$2.21 ฿72.1

267.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 ISK 1,024

$3.66 ฿119

124.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 241

$1.65 ฿53.8

16.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 ISK 517

$1.63 ฿53.2

154.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 ISK 293

$1.19 ฿38.86

97.48%

Eggs

$6.18 ISK 769

$2.00 ฿65.1

209.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.22 ISK 2,268

$15.98 ฿520

14.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.63 ISK 2,942

$3.03 ฿98.5

679.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.19 ISK 5,377

$10.86 ฿354

297.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 ISK 293

$2.76 ฿90.0

-14.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 ISK 303

$1.18 ฿38.42

105.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ISK 298

$1.64 ฿53.5

45.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 ISK 503

$1.52 ฿49.51

165.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 378

$1.38 ฿45.10

120.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 ISK 254

$1.19 ฿38.84

71.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 ISK 391

$0.70 ฿22.86

348.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ISK 243

$0.56 ฿18.13

248.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.53 ISK 1,685

$4.58 ฿149

195.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 ISK 1,970

$16.56 ฿539

-4.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.75 ISK 466

$1.83 ฿59.5

104.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ISK 341

$3.20 ฿104

-14.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.57 ISK 444

$0.88 ฿28.56

305.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 ISK 9,355

$18.72 ฿610

301.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 ISK 804

$1.36 ฿44.16

374.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 ISK 286

$1.34 ฿43.65

71.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.4 ISK 10.6K

$7.84 ฿256

989.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 308

$1.23 ฿39.92

100.81%

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

$47.1K ISK 5.9M

$21.6K ฿704.3K

118.04%

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

$52.8K ISK 6.6M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

134.01%

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

$86.3 ISK 10.7K

$70.5 ฿2,298

22.36%

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

$27.46 ISK 3,418

$13.68 ฿445

100.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

$17.45 ฿568

391.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$17.45 ISK 2,173

$5.77 ฿188

202.43%

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

$318 ISK 39.5K

$307 ฿10.0K

3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.8M

$14.6K ฿475.9K

106.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.4K

$55.8 ฿1,817

150.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 ISK 7,790

$26.21 ฿854

138.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$185 ISK 23.1K

$85.8 ฿2,793

116.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$184 ISK 22.9K

$72.2 ฿2,353

154.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,877 ISK 233.6K

$430 ฿14.0K

336.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ISK 167.3K

$239 ฿7,774

462.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,475 ISK 308.2K

$817 ฿26.6K

202.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 ISK 254.2K

$511 ฿16.6K

299.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,650 ISK 454.4K

$619 ฿20.2K

489.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

92.60%

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

Last update for Keflavik: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,877 in Keflavik versus $430 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 490% higher in Keflavik, 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 $147 in Keflavik versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $559 vs $241 – 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

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

Keflavik costs about 225% 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 $4,239 per month in Keflavik and $1,303 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 $318 per month in Keflavik and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 132% more in Keflavik, 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 $869, than in Keflavik at $2,826. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Keflavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,826 in Keflavik. 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, Keflavik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.