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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $631 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $872 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,113 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 37% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.96 IQD 3,881

-34.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$11.29 IQD 14.8K

65.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.20 IQD 6,807

50.38%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.50 IQD 1,965

30.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.40 IQD 517

112.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.18 IQD 239

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.88 IQD 3,771

-26.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.84 IQD 3,722

31.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.37 IQD 1,796

24.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.76 IQD 1,001

114.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.29 IQD 1,690

-11.63%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.72 IQD 2,254

12.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.47 IQD 5,853

262.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.81 IQD 6,298

-35.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.23 IQD 13.4K

6.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.81 IQD 1,065

239.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.88 IQD 1,158

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.97 IQD 1,274

67.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.61 IQD 794

160.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.64 IQD 834

118.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.67 IQD 883

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.48 IQD 634

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.61 IQD 803

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.97 IQD 2,575

138.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.98 IQD 9,140

167.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.86 IQD 2,441

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.11 IQD 2,761

53.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.36 IQD 473

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$30.73 IQD 40.2K

-37.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.95 IQD 2,550

-27.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.25 IQD 1,634

3.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

0.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.36 IQD 465

252.78%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$9,883 IQD 12.9M

115.29%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$18.2K IQD 23.8M

22.36%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$37.70 IQD 49.4K

83.21%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.08 IQD 22.4K

-17.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$38.22 IQD 50.1K

-52.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

135.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.71 IQD 11.4K

-20.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.74 IQD 7,511

3.14%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$94.9 IQD 124.3K

215.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$745 IQD 976.2K

1905.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$20.17 IQD 26.4K

171.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

-12.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$19.69 IQD 25.8K

331.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

184.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$138 IQD 180.9K

209.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$179 IQD 234.7K

32.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$239 IQD 313.3K

234.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$199 IQD 261.1K

158.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$758 IQD 992.2K

160.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$299 IQD 391.9K

392.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$494 IQD 646.8K

25.00%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $138 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 25% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $158 – 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 37%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $947 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.9 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $631 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.