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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in Baghdadi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,526 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 12% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdadi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 43% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 IQD 6,644

$2.04 ฿68.4

148.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

$18.71 ฿626

-10.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 IQD 9,209

$7.86 ฿263

-10.56%

Cappuccino

$1.71 IQD 2,235

$2.03 ฿67.9

-15.76%

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

$0.43 IQD 562

$0.80 ฿26.71

-46.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$0.35 ฿11.71

-25.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,840

$2.14 ฿71.7

36.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 IQD 3,808

$3.67 ฿123

-20.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 IQD 1,490

$1.73 ฿57.8

-34.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 879

$1.57 ฿52.5

-57.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 IQD 2,929

$1.20 ฿40.10

86.67%

Eggs

$1.69 IQD 2,215

$1.97 ฿66.0

-14.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 IQD 7,920

$16.23 ฿543

-62.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 IQD 5,798

$3.06 ฿102

44.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

$10.80 ฿361

-14.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,337

$2.77 ฿92.6

-63.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,275

$1.17 ฿39.05

-17.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,323

$1.71 ฿57.1

-40.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 695

$1.59 ฿53.3

-66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 IQD 747

$1.39 ฿46.63

-58.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 832

$1.16 ฿38.67

-44.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 IQD 857

$0.66 ฿22.11

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 675

$0.52 ฿17.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 IQD 2,255

$4.65 ฿155

-63.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

$17.78 ฿595

-14.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,425

$1.79 ฿59.8

3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 IQD 2,708

$3.34 ฿112

-38.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.91 ฿30.35

-59.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

$18.64 ฿624

68.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,944

$1.41 ฿47.17

59.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,925

$1.34 ฿44.82

9.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 IQD 7,879

$8.11 ฿271

-25.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 748

$1.23 ฿41.27

-53.66%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

$21.4K ฿717.0K

-11.60%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$21.8K ฿730.0K

-10.01%

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

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

$71.3 ฿2,386

7.01%

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

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

$14.01 ฿469

24.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

$17.93 ฿600

95.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$40.82 ฿1,365

-10.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

$6.88 ฿230

139.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,746

$5.72 ฿191

30.07%

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

$153 IQD 200.0K

$308 ฿10.3K

-50.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

$14.7K ฿491.0K

-77.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

$55.8 ฿1,865

-51.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

$26.04 ฿871

-3.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

$84.8 ฿2,837

-28.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

$71.0 ฿2,375

-42.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 IQD 313.6K

$423 ฿14.2K

-43.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.6K

$242 ฿8,110

-27.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 IQD 772.5K

$797 ฿26.7K

-26.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 IQD 455.1K

$507 ฿17.0K

-31.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

$1,918 ฿64.2K

-20.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$492 IQD 643.7K

$1,464 ฿49.0K

-66.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 665.9K

$595 ฿19.9K

-14.54%

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 Baghdadi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Baghdadi versus $423 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 17% 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 $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $244 – 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 13%, 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 $1,129 per month in Baghdadi and $1,279 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $753 in Baghdadi and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 69% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $753 in Baghdadi and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.