Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ba'qubah and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $638 in Ba'qubah versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $985 in Ba'qubah versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,333 in Ba'qubah versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Ba'qubah costs roughly 25% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ba'qubah 52% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,592

$1.96 ฿63.6

156.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.37 IQD 20.1K

$18.81 ฿611

-18.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 IQD 8,317

$7.92 ฿258

-19.82%

Cappuccino

$1.13 IQD 1,478

$1.91 ฿62.2

-40.84%

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

$0.48 IQD 628

$0.84 ฿27.25

-42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.35 ฿11.44

-48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 IQD 2,533

$2.21 ฿71.7

-12.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 IQD 2,697

$3.80 ฿124

-45.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 IQD 1,485

$1.64 ฿53.2

-31.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 IQD 725

$1.62 ฿52.8

-66.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,473

$1.18 ฿38.40

-5.08%

Eggs

$1.41 IQD 1,851

$2.01 ฿65.4

-29.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.26 IQD 2,963

$15.89 ฿517

-85.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.52 IQD 3,297

$3.01 ฿98.0

-16.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 IQD 14.1K

$10.77 ฿350

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,201

$2.61 ฿85.0

-64.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,479

$1.22 ฿39.65

-7.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,291

$1.70 ฿55.4

-41.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 782

$1.58 ฿51.2

-62.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 IQD 728

$1.32 ฿42.89

-57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$1.17 ฿38.01

-41.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 IQD 612

$0.67 ฿21.85

-29.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 281

$0.56 ฿18.21

-62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 IQD 3,556

$4.53 ฿147

-40.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 IQD 16.0K

$18.20 ฿592

-32.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,873

$1.83 ฿59.6

-21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 IQD 2,654

$3.23 ฿105

-37.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.89 ฿28.83

-55.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.61 IQD 41.4K

$19.38 ฿630

63.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 IQD 3,099

$1.35 ฿43.95

75.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 IQD 2,750

$1.35 ฿43.79

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 IQD 6,971

$8.25 ฿268

-35.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 427

$1.27 ฿41.40

-74.02%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

-10.22%

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

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

-7.14%

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

$59.3 IQD 77.7K

$70.2 ฿2,281

-15.45%

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

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

$13.77 ฿448

30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.11 IQD 35.5K

$17.60 ฿572

54.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.94 IQD 24.8K

$41.57 ฿1,352

-54.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.8K

$6.60 ฿215

151.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.82 IQD 4,998

$5.78 ฿188

-33.91%

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

$27.30 IQD 35.8K

$306 ฿9,953

-91.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$632 IQD 827.5K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-95.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

$54.4 ฿1,768

-65.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.97 IQD 24.9K

$26.14 ฿850

-27.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 IQD 109.8K

$84.5 ฿2,748

-0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.25 IQD 35.7K

$69.4 ฿2,257

-60.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 IQD 320.2K

$424 ฿13.8K

-42.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 IQD 238.5K

$238 ฿7,743

-23.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 IQD 746.1K

$825 ฿26.8K

-30.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 451.4K

$515 ฿16.7K

-33.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$768 IQD 1.0M

$2,049 ฿66.6K

-62.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$188 IQD 246.6K

$1,523 ฿49.5K

-87.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 IQD 956.2K

$635 ฿20.6K

14.93%

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 Ba'qubah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Ba'qubah and $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ba'qubah pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Ba'qubah vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $140 vs $243 per month, with Ba'qubah cheaper across the board.

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

Ba'qubah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba'qubah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ba'qubah pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Ba'qubah versus $424 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba'qubah – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Ba'qubah 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, Ba'qubah 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 Ba'qubah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.