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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,564 per month in Selfoss vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,499 per month in Selfoss vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,435 per month in Selfoss vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 318% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Selfoss sits 166% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.26 ISK 2,481

$7.92 ฿258

155.81%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

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)

$12.03 ISK 1,473

$2.21 ฿71.7

444.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 214

$1.64 ฿53.2

6.10%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 889

$1.62 ฿52.8

348.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 ISK 555

$1.18 ฿38.40

283.90%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

$2.01 ฿65.4

212.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.50 ISK 2,021

$15.89 ฿517

3.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.92 ISK 2,562

$3.01 ฿98.0

595.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.41 ISK 4,092

$10.77 ฿350

210.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 331

$2.61 ฿85.0

3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 321

$1.22 ฿39.65

114.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 314

$1.70 ฿55.4

51.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.17 ISK 878

$1.58 ฿51.2

353.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 ISK 391

$1.32 ฿42.89

141.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ISK 251

$1.17 ฿38.01

75.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 ISK 431

$0.67 ฿21.85

425.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 169

$0.56 ฿18.21

146.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.96 ISK 1,833

$4.53 ฿147

230.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ISK 140

$3.23 ฿105

-64.40%

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

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

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

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

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

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

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.8K

$238 ฿7,743

1102.46%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Selfoss: April 28, 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

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

Selfoss costs about 318% 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 $5,346 per month in Selfoss and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,564 in Selfoss and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 109% more in Selfoss, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $3,564 in Selfoss and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,564 in Selfoss. 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, Selfoss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.