Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Diwaniyah and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $567 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $890 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,212 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 40% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 59% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.34 IQD 4,369

$2.10 ฿69.3

59.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.27 IQD 14.8K

$19.84 ฿656

-43.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 IQD 6,856

$5.79 ฿191

-9.50%

Cappuccino

$1.96 IQD 2,563

$1.83 ฿60.4

7.10%

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

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.78 ฿25.61

-48.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 343

$0.31 ฿10.37

-16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 IQD 4,938

$2.34 ฿77.2

61.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 IQD 5,040

$3.70 ฿122

4.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 IQD 1,371

$2.03 ฿67.1

-48.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,041

$1.60 ฿52.7

-50.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,784

$1.42 ฿46.75

-4.23%

Eggs

$1.92 IQD 2,512

$2.18 ฿71.9

-11.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.93 IQD 5,143

$15.91 ฿526

-75.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 IQD 5,019

$3.07 ฿102

24.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.52 IQD 15.1K

$9.87 ฿326

16.72%

Apples (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 946

$2.63 ฿86.8

-72.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,036

$1.10 ฿36.19

-28.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,037

$1.63 ฿53.8

-51.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 959

$1.53 ฿50.6

-52.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 913

$1.24 ฿41.13

-43.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$1.13 ฿37.37

-41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 IQD 481

$0.74 ฿24.38

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 IQD 916

$0.50 ฿16.48

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 IQD 2,391

$4.28 ฿141

-57.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.85 IQD 5,048

$17.97 ฿594

-78.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 IQD 2,830

$1.70 ฿56.1

27.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 IQD 2,954

$2.90 ฿95.7

-22.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,068

$1.23 ฿40.76

90.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 IQD 1,192

$0.53 ฿17.66

71.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 IQD 9,758

$2.40 ฿79.3

210.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 IQD 461

$1.44 ฿47.55

-75.69%

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

$18.7K IQD 24.5M

$21.2K ฿700.2K

-11.61%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-29.05%

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

$38.67 IQD 50.6K

$64.9 ฿2,145

-40.44%

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

$16.93 IQD 22.2K

$13.35 ฿441

26.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

$20.83 ฿688

86.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.79 IQD 24.6K

$40.42 ฿1,336

-53.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.49 IQD 9,809

$3.95 ฿131

89.62%

Cinema Ticket

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

$6.71 ฿222

16.69%

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

$74.8 IQD 98.0K

$787 ฿26.0K

-90.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,404 IQD 4.5M

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-77.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.13 IQD 38.1K

$56.2 ฿1,858

-48.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

$24.95 ฿824

53.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

$92.7 ฿3,063

-19.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.79 IQD 62.6K

$75.1 ฿2,482

-36.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$77.8 IQD 101.9K

$484 ฿16.0K

-83.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 150.4K

$287 ฿9,491

-60.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$155 IQD 202.4K

$910 ฿30.1K

-83.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 IQD 305.5K

$531 ฿17.5K

-56.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$380 IQD 497.8K

$605 ฿20.0K

-37.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

5.57

-26.03%

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $77.8 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $484 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $149 vs $242 – making Ad Diwaniyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ad Diwaniyah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $851 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $567 in Ad Diwaniyah and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $74.8 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.