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 $3,462 per month in Selfoss vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,428 per month in Selfoss vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,394 per month in Selfoss vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 306% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Selfoss sits 160% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.38 ISK 2,535

$7.86 ฿263

159.29%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.83 ISK 1,472

$2.14 ฿71.7

452.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 216

$1.73 ฿57.8

0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$7.09 ISK 882

$1.57 ฿52.5

351.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ISK 532

$1.20 ฿40.10

256.67%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 800

$1.97 ฿66.0

226.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.96 ISK 2,110

$16.23 ฿543

4.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.63 ISK 2,566

$3.06 ฿102

574.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.75 ISK 4,073

$10.80 ฿361

203.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ISK 335

$2.77 ฿92.6

-2.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ISK 330

$1.17 ฿39.05

126.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 325

$1.71 ฿57.1

52.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 904

$1.59 ฿53.3

357.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 395

$1.39 ฿46.63

128.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$1.16 ฿38.67

78.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 443

$0.66 ฿22.11

439.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 172

$0.52 ฿17.35

165.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,916

$4.65 ฿155

231.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 142

$3.34 ฿112

-65.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

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

$14.01 ฿469

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 361.1K

$242 ฿8,110

1097.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Selfoss: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 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 306% 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 $5,192 per month in Selfoss and $1,279 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 $3,462 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 107% 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 $3,462 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 $3,462 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.