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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $567 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $890 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,212 in Ad Diwaniyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Ad Diwaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ad Diwaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ad Diwaniyah 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.34 IQD 4,369

-37.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$11.27 IQD 14.8K

76.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$5.24 IQD 6,856

10.50%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.96 IQD 2,563

-6.63%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.40 IQD 520

95.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.26 IQD 343

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.77 IQD 4,938

-37.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.85 IQD 5,040

-3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.05 IQD 1,371

93.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.79 IQD 1,041

102.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.36 IQD 1,784

4.41%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.92 IQD 2,512

13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.93 IQD 5,143

304.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.83 IQD 5,019

-19.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$11.52 IQD 15.1K

-14.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$0.72 IQD 946

265.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.79 IQD 1,036

39.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.79 IQD 1,037

106.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.73 IQD 959

109.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.70 IQD 913

77.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.66 IQD 863

71.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.37 IQD 481

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.70 IQD 916

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.83 IQD 2,391

133.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$3.85 IQD 5,048

366.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.16 IQD 2,830

-21.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.26 IQD 2,954

28.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.34 IQD 3,068

-47.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.91 IQD 1,192

-41.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.45 IQD 9,758

-67.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.35 IQD 461

311.43%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$18.7K IQD 24.5M

13.13%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

40.95%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$38.67 IQD 50.6K

67.91%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$16.93 IQD 22.2K

-21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-46.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$18.79 IQD 24.6K

115.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$7.49 IQD 9,809

-47.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

-14.30%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$74.8 IQD 98.0K

951.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,404 IQD 4.5M

344.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$29.13 IQD 38.1K

93.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$38.41 IQD 50.3K

-35.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

24.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$47.79 IQD 62.6K

57.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$77.8 IQD 101.9K

521.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$115 IQD 150.4K

150.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$155 IQD 202.4K

488.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$233 IQD 305.5K

127.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$380 IQD 497.8K

59.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.12

35.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ad Diwaniyah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $77.8 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 59% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Ad Diwaniyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $149 – 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 68%, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $851 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $567 in Ad Diwaniyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $74.8 in Ad Diwaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ad Diwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ad Diwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.