🙂A single person spends $178 per month in Reykjahlid vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $262 per month in Reykjahlid vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $346 per month in Reykjahlid vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Reykjahlid is about 79% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Reykjahlid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Reykjahlid87% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.96฿63.6
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.81฿611
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.92฿258
-
Cappuccino
$6.00ISK 735
$1.91฿62.2
214.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.84฿27.25
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.35฿11.44
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.75ISK 1,439
$2.21฿71.7
431.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.68ISK 1,431
$3.80฿124
207.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.36ISK 289
$1.64฿53.2
43.90%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.62฿52.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.18฿38.40
-
Eggs
-
$2.01฿65.4
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.89฿517
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.01฿98.0
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.77฿350
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.61฿85.0
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.22฿39.65
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.70฿55.4
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.58฿51.2
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.32฿42.89
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.17฿38.01
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.67฿21.85
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56฿18.21
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.53฿147
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.20฿592
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿59.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿105
-
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿28.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.35฿43.95
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.35฿43.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25฿268
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.27฿41.40
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K฿687.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿731.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.2฿2,281
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.77฿448
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.60฿572
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.57฿1,352
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.78฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306฿9,953
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8K฿482.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.4฿1,768
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.14฿850
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$84.5฿2,748
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$69.4฿2,257
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,743
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿26.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjahlid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Reykjahlid: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
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
Reykjahlid vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjahlid or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 380% more than Reykjahlid, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Reykjahlid vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $267 per month in Reykjahlid and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Reykjahlid compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $178 in Reykjahlid and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Reykjahlid or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 932% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $1,200/month in Reykjahlid or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $178 in Reykjahlid and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Reykjahlid or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Reykjahlid costs $178 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Reykjahlid 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 Reykjahlid or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Reykjahlid. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Reykjahlid vs other spots: cost of living compared