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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $631 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,113 per month in Ad Diwaniyah vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ad Diwaniyah is about 27% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ad Diwaniyah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ad Diwaniyah 53% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 IQD 3,881

$1.94 ฿63.5

52.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.29 IQD 14.8K

$18.64 ฿609

-39.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 IQD 6,807

$7.82 ฿255

-33.50%

Cappuccino

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$1.95 ฿63.8

-23.08%

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

$0.40 IQD 517

$0.85 ฿27.77

-52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 239

$0.35 ฿11.58

-48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 IQD 3,771

$2.13 ฿69.6

35.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 IQD 3,722

$3.73 ฿122

-23.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,796

$1.71 ฿56.0

-19.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 IQD 1,001

$1.63 ฿53.2

-53.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,690

$1.14 ฿37.15

13.16%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,254

$1.93 ฿63.1

-10.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 IQD 5,853

$16.21 ฿530

-72.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 IQD 6,298

$3.12 ฿102

54.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 IQD 13.4K

$10.90 ฿356

-6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$2.75 ฿90.0

-70.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 IQD 1,158

$1.21 ฿39.52

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$1.62 ฿53.0

-40.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 794

$1.59 ฿51.8

-61.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 834

$1.40 ฿45.70

-54.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$1.17 ฿38.17

-42.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 634

$0.66 ฿21.60

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 IQD 803

$0.53 ฿17.22

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$4.69 ฿153

-58.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.98 IQD 9,140

$18.66 ฿609

-62.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,441

$1.80 ฿58.8

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,761

$3.23 ฿106

-34.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 473

$0.90 ฿29.26

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.73 IQD 40.2K

$19.21 ฿628

59.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 IQD 2,550

$1.41 ฿45.91

38.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 IQD 1,634

$1.29 ฿42.12

-3.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$7.84 ฿256

-0.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 IQD 465

$1.27 ฿41.58

-71.65%

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

$9,883 IQD 12.9M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-53.55%

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

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-18.27%

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

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

$69.1 ฿2,256

-45.42%

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

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

$14.08 ฿460

21.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.22 IQD 50.1K

$18.00 ฿588

112.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

$41.06 ฿1,341

-57.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.71 IQD 11.4K

$6.96 ฿227

25.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 IQD 7,511

$5.92 ฿193

-3.04%

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

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

$299 ฿9,766

-68.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$745 IQD 976.2K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-95.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

$54.7 ฿1,787

-63.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

$26.77 ฿874

13.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.69 IQD 25.8K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-76.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

$70.6 ฿2,306

-64.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 IQD 180.9K

$428 ฿14.0K

-67.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.7K

$237 ฿7,752

-24.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$801 ฿26.2K

-70.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 IQD 261.1K

$515 ฿16.8K

-61.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$758 IQD 992.2K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-61.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$299 IQD 391.9K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-79.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 IQD 646.8K

$617 ฿20.2K

-20.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

13.40%

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

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Ad Diwaniyah versus $428 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 25% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $246 – 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 37%, 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 $947 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $1,300 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.

Kindergarten costs $94.9 per month in Ad Diwaniyah and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $631 in Ad Diwaniyah and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.