Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ad Diwaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ad Diwaniyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $866 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,112 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.91 IQD 3,813

-32.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$11.64 IQD 15.2K

57.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.32 IQD 6,967

40.60%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.45 IQD 1,897

39.31%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.37 IQD 483

129.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.20 IQD 258

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.93 IQD 3,841

-26.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.83 IQD 3,709

26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.30 IQD 1,707

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.76 IQD 994

106.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.30 IQD 1,706

-8.46%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.73 IQD 2,260

12.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.55 IQD 5,953

255.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.85 IQD 6,350

-38.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.05 IQD 13.2K

8.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.75 IQD 976

261.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.97 IQD 1,272

20.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.91 IQD 1,187

85.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.60 IQD 781

166.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.69 IQD 907

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.67 IQD 882

79.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.49 IQD 637

36.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.66 IQD 864

-15.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.86 IQD 2,430

149.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$3.77 IQD 4,942

367.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.83 IQD 2,402

1.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.17 IQD 2,846

52.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.39 IQD 515

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$31.48 IQD 41.2K

-38.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$2.06 IQD 2,695

-33.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.21 IQD 1,583

10.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

4.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.38 IQD 500

221.05%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$10.2K IQD 13.3M

110.34%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

27.23%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$38.78 IQD 50.8K

82.23%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$16.98 IQD 22.2K

-17.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$38.49 IQD 50.4K

-54.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$16.99 IQD 22.2K

148.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$8.79 IQD 11.5K

-21.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.55 IQD 7,263

6.67%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$91.9 IQD 120.4K

235.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$750 IQD 981.8K

1884.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$20.36 IQD 26.7K

173.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$30.37 IQD 39.8K

-14.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$19.82 IQD 26.0K

318.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$25.26 IQD 33.1K

178.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$137 IQD 180.0K

214.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$181 IQD 237.2K

31.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$232 IQD 304.0K

254.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$200 IQD 262.1K

155.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$385 IQD 503.7K

50.62%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $137 in Ad Diwaniyah. 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 51% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $151 – making Ad Diwaniyah 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

Chiang Mai vs Ad Diwaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 39%, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $930 in Ad Diwaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ad Diwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $91.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $620 in Ad Diwaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ad Diwaniyah – 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 Ad Diwaniyah. 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.