Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Baghdadi and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $473 per month in Baghdadi vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $766 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 50% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdadi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 66% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 IQD 9,935

$2.10 ฿69.3

261.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.66 IQD 17.9K

$19.84 ฿656

-31.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.87 IQD 2,453

$1.83 ฿60.4

2.19%

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

$0.42 IQD 549

$0.78 ฿25.61

-46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 283

$0.31 ฿10.37

-29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 IQD 1,334

$2.03 ฿67.1

-49.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 IQD 645

$1.60 ฿52.7

-69.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 IQD 3,623

$1.42 ฿46.75

95.07%

Eggs

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$2.18 ฿71.9

-19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 IQD 8,778

$15.91 ฿526

-57.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 IQD 4,232

$3.07 ฿102

5.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.23 IQD 10.8K

$9.87 ฿326

-16.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,333

$2.63 ฿86.8

-61.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,347

$1.10 ฿36.19

-6.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,340

$1.63 ฿53.8

-37.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 342

$1.53 ฿50.6

-83.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 341

$1.24 ฿41.13

-79.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 830

$1.13 ฿37.37

-44.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 IQD 624

$0.74 ฿24.38

-35.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 IQD 751

$0.50 ฿16.48

14.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$4.28 ฿141

-76.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 IQD 19.5K

$17.97 ฿594

-16.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 IQD 378

$0.94 ฿31.13

-69.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 IQD 6,643

$1.23 ฿40.76

312.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.09 IQD 9,289

$2.40 ฿79.3

195.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 IQD 538

$1.44 ฿47.55

-71.53%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$49.79 IQD 65.2K

$64.9 ฿2,145

-23.32%

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

$20.83 ฿688

-27.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

$40.42 ฿1,336

50.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

$6.71 ฿222

18.18%

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

$79.5 IQD 104.1K

$787 ฿26.0K

-89.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,094 IQD 6.7M

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-66.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.03 IQD 19.7K

$56.2 ฿1,858

-73.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.48 IQD 33.4K

$92.7 ฿3,063

-72.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.83 IQD 52.2K

$75.1 ฿2,482

-46.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 IQD 198.0K

$484 ฿16.0K

-68.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

$287 ฿9,491

-82.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 IQD 587.8K

$910 ฿30.1K

-50.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.0K

$531 ฿17.5K

-71.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,517 IQD 2.0M

$1,980 ฿65.4K

-23.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$499 IQD 653.5K

$1,451 ฿47.9K

-65.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$498 IQD 652.4K

$605 ฿20.0K

-17.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

79.53%

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

Last update for Baghdadi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Baghdadi 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 21% 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 $14.00 in Baghdadi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $242 – making Baghdadi 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

Baghdadi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 101%, 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 $710 per month in Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Baghdadi and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – 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 Baghdadi. 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.