Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Rumaitha and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Rumaitha and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 10% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha 42% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 IQD 5,239

$1.96 ฿65.7

104.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

$18.35 ฿616

37.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 IQD 8,785

$7.48 ฿251

-10.29%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,408

$2.02 ฿67.7

28.71%

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

$0.39 IQD 515

$0.85 ฿28.45

-54.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.36 ฿11.94

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 IQD 3,745

$2.14 ฿71.7

33.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,809

$3.59 ฿121

-18.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 IQD 1,738

$1.65 ฿55.4

-19.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$1.57 ฿52.6

-49.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,168

$1.19 ฿39.95

39.50%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,274

$1.94 ฿65.0

-10.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 IQD 5,727

$16.19 ฿544

-73.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,039

$2.99 ฿100

54.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

$10.94 ฿367

21.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,570

$2.71 ฿91.0

-55.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 IQD 1,507

$1.17 ฿39.18

-1.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.69 ฿56.6

-39.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 964

$1.60 ฿53.9

-53.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 845

$1.38 ฿46.45

-52.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 872

$1.20 ฿40.38

-44.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 813

$0.67 ฿22.46

-7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.56 ฿18.70

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$4.64 ฿156

-59.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

$17.62 ฿591

-26.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,421

$1.86 ฿62.4

-0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,727

$3.30 ฿111

-36.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.88 ฿29.63

-59.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

$19.34 ฿649

61.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 IQD 3,054

$1.36 ฿45.82

71.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,957

$1.34 ฿44.90

11.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 IQD 7,756

$8.21 ฿276

-27.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 751

$1.22 ฿41.11

-53.28%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

-9.94%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

-13.01%

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

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

$70.7 ฿2,372

10.54%

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

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

$14.04 ฿471

24.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

$17.49 ฿587

96.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

$42.15 ฿1,415

-12.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

$6.88 ฿231

148.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.63 IQD 9,995

$5.92 ฿199

28.89%

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

$153 IQD 200.1K

$309 ฿10.4K

-50.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

$14.9K ฿499.5K

-77.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

$55.8 ฿1,872

-51.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

$26.11 ฿877

-4.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

$83.0 ฿2,787

-24.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

$70.5 ฿2,365

-42.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 IQD 313.3K

$432 ฿14.5K

-44.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.9K

$239 ฿8,020

-24.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 IQD 764.6K

$822 ฿27.6K

-28.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.7K

$512 ฿17.2K

-33.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

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 Al-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Al-Rumaitha and $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $243, with Al-Rumaitha cheaper for home cooking.

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

Al-Rumaitha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,292 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Al-Rumaitha versus $432 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $861 in Chiang Mai – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 62% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Rumaitha gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Al-Rumaitha is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Al-Rumaitha and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.