Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $3,416 in Selfoss, rent and utilities included – about $29,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Selfoss

🇮🇸 Iceland

$3,416

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Selfoss and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Selfoss and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,416 per month in Selfoss vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Selfoss $3,416
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $2,439 per month in Selfoss vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Selfoss $2,439
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,461 per month in Selfoss vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Selfoss $1,461
Chiang Mai $1,979

Selfoss costs about 265% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Selfoss sits 151% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.39 ISK 2,477

$5.55 ฿187

267.39%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.18 ISK 1,480

$2.36 ฿79.5

416.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ISK 215

$1.95 ฿65.7

-9.23%

White Bread (500g)

$7.65 ISK 930

$1.44 ฿48.41

431.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 ISK 553

$1.33 ฿44.97

242.11%

Eggs

$6.49 ISK 788

$2.28 ฿77.0

184.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.25 ISK 2,096

$16.45 ฿554

4.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.56 ISK 2,619

$2.78 ฿93.8

675.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.60 ISK 4,082

$9.31 ฿314

260.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ISK 343

$2.35 ฿79.3

20.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 328

$0.97 ฿32.75

178.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ISK 330

$1.60 ฿53.8

70.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.25 ISK 881

$1.50 ฿50.6

383.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 394

$1.28 ฿43.06

153.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 252

$1.10 ฿37.14

88.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.70 ISK 449

$0.71 ฿23.79

421.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 163

$0.49 ฿16.34

173.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.61 ISK 1,897

$4.14 ฿140

277.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ISK 140

$2.78 ฿93.8

-58.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

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

$12.17 ฿410

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 ISK 336.6K

$309 ฿10.4K

796.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Selfoss: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Selfoss

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Good to know

🇮🇸 Selfoss

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

01:02 1:02 AM

08:02 8:02 AM

7 h ahead of Selfoss

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,000

127,240

💱 Currency

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.39 EUR

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇸 Icelandic Króna (kr)

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 135 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.39 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

USD to ISK in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Selfoss Chiang Mai 9,490 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Selfoss
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 265% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,124 per month in Selfoss and $1,403 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 $3,416 in Selfoss and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 73% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 123% more in Selfoss, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,416 in Selfoss and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $3,416 in Selfoss. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.