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 $743 per month in Baghdadi vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,492 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Baghdadi is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Baghdadi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi 44% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 IQD 6,588

$1.96 ฿64.0

156.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

$18.81 ฿615

-7.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 IQD 9,057

$7.92 ฿259

-12.75%

Cappuccino

$1.75 IQD 2,287

$1.91 ฿62.6

-8.38%

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

$0.42 IQD 553

$0.84 ฿27.41

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 IQD 314

$0.35 ฿11.51

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 IQD 3,905

$2.21 ฿72.1

34.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 IQD 3,658

$3.80 ฿124

-26.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 IQD 1,432

$1.64 ฿53.5

-33.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 IQD 819

$1.62 ฿53.1

-61.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 IQD 2,996

$1.18 ฿38.62

94.07%

Eggs

$1.76 IQD 2,310

$2.01 ฿65.8

-12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.76 IQD 7,545

$15.89 ฿520

-63.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 IQD 5,931

$3.01 ฿98.5

50.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

$10.77 ฿352

-12.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 IQD 1,346

$2.61 ฿85.5

-60.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,329

$1.22 ฿39.88

-17.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.70 ฿55.7

-40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 IQD 691

$1.58 ฿51.5

-66.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 707

$1.32 ฿43.14

-59.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 884

$1.17 ฿38.23

-42.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.67 ฿21.98

-4.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 631

$0.56 ฿18.32

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.77 IQD 2,316

$4.53 ฿148

-60.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

$18.20 ฿595

-25.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,349

$1.83 ฿60.0

-2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,844

$3.23 ฿106

-32.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 480

$0.89 ฿29.00

-58.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

$19.38 ฿634

61.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 IQD 3,068

$1.35 ฿44.20

73.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,011

$1.35 ฿44.05

13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 IQD 7,839

$8.25 ฿270

-27.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 699

$1.27 ฿41.64

-58.27%

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

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

$21.2K ฿691.8K

-9.04%

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

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

$22.5K ฿735.3K

-11.60%

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

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

$70.2 ฿2,294

9.75%

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

$17.90 IQD 23.5K

$13.77 ฿450

29.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

$17.60 ฿575

98.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

$41.57 ฿1,360

-10.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

$6.60 ฿216

153.79%

Cinema Ticket

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

$5.78 ฿189

34.08%

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

$153 IQD 200.9K

$306 ฿10.0K

-49.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-77.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

$54.4 ฿1,778

-49.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

$26.14 ฿855

-2.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

$84.5 ฿2,764

-27.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

$69.4 ฿2,270

-40.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$246 IQD 321.7K

$424 ฿13.9K

-42.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 IQD 231.7K

$238 ฿7,788

-25.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 IQD 752.4K

$825 ฿27.0K

-30.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 452.1K

$515 ฿16.8K

-33.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

$2,049 ฿67.0K

-27.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 IQD 658.2K

$1,523 ฿49.8K

-67.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$491 IQD 643.8K

$635 ฿20.8K

-22.64%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $246 in Baghdadi versus $424 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 29% 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: $171 vs $243 – 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 15%, 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 $1,115 per month in Baghdadi and $1,278 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 $743 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 62% 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 $743 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.