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 $3,533 per month in Selfoss vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Selfoss vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,422 per month in Selfoss vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 307% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Selfoss sits 163% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$7.75 ฿252

153.29%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$2.21 ฿72.1

454.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$1.65 ฿53.8

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$1.63 ฿53.2

355.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$1.19 ฿38.86

263.03%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$2.00 ฿65.1

211.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$15.98 ฿520

6.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$3.03 ฿98.5

598.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$10.86 ฿354

204.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$2.76 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$1.18 ฿38.42

119.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$1.64 ฿53.5

56.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$1.52 ฿49.51

370.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$1.38 ฿45.10

127.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$1.19 ฿38.84

73.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$0.70 ฿22.86

412.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$0.56 ฿18.13

139.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$4.58 ฿149

235.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$3.20 ฿104

-65.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

$239 ฿7,774

1108.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

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)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Selfoss: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 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 307% 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 $5,299 per month in Selfoss and $1,303 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 $3,533 in Selfoss and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 112% 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 $3,533 in Selfoss and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $3,533 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.