Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and 'aqrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and 'aqrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $743 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,571 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.12 IQD 5,395

-52.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$25.25 IQD 33.1K

-25.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.04 IQD 9,226

12.50%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.59 IQD 3,398

-26.25%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.39 IQD 516

115.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.22 IQD 282

59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.84 IQD 3,720

-22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.84 IQD 3,717

33.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.36 IQD 1,786

20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.78 IQD 1,028

107.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.65 IQD 2,159

-28.48%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.79 IQD 2,342

12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.43 IQD 5,806

258.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.78 IQD 6,262

-37.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.06 IQD 17.1K

-17.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.20 IQD 1,567

117.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.15 IQD 1,509

6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.05 IQD 1,378

61.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.76 IQD 990

107.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.64 IQD 841

106.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.63 IQD 824

85.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.62 IQD 812

8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.53 IQD 690

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.89 IQD 2,478

139.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.86 IQD 2,442

-1.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.11 IQD 2,763

53.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.40 IQD 520

122.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

-37.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.26 IQD 2,959

-40.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.48 IQD 1,939

-8.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$6.17 IQD 8,077

33.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.53 IQD 696

139.62%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

10.07%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

12.05%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$76.8 IQD 100.7K

-8.71%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.87 IQD 23.4K

-22.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

-49.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

11.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$17.00 IQD 22.3K

-61.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.47 IQD 9,781

-22.62%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$151 IQD 197.3K

103.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$3,295 IQD 4.3M

349.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$26.67 IQD 34.9K

103.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

3.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$62.0 IQD 81.3K

36.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$40.81 IQD 53.5K

70.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$243 IQD 318.4K

74.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$178 IQD 232.9K

33.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$588 IQD 770.5K

40.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$341 IQD 447.2K

50.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-11.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $243 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $158 in 'aqrah – so 'aqrah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,115 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $743 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 60% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $743 in 'aqrah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. 'aqrah costs $743 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 'aqrah. 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.