Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al Kazimiyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al Kazimiyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,154 in Al Kazimiyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,585 in Al Kazimiyah.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 19% more expensive than in Al Kazimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Al Kazimiyah 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$3.94 IQD 5,161

-50.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

-26.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.91 IQD 9,055

8.25%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.55 IQD 3,337

-20.78%

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

$0.16 IQD 214

125.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.99 IQD 3,917

-28.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.86 IQD 3,741

25.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.37 IQD 1,788

20.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.84 IQD 1,100

86.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.64 IQD 2,146

-27.44%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.80 IQD 2,357

7.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.42 IQD 5,790

266.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.78 IQD 6,259

-37.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

-18.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.20 IQD 1,578

125.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.21 IQD 1,585

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.00 IQD 1,313

69.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.73 IQD 961

119.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.64 IQD 841

115.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.62 IQD 814

93.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.63 IQD 829

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.56 IQD 737

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.88 IQD 2,457

146.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.84 IQD 2,416

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.15 IQD 2,822

53.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.40 IQD 518

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$31.10 IQD 40.7K

-37.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$2.33 IQD 3,048

-41.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.53 IQD 2,007

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.96 IQD 7,801

37.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.57 IQD 752

114.04%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

13.50%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$19.9K IQD 26.1M

13.07%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

-7.39%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.47 IQD 22.9K

-19.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$34.12 IQD 44.7K

-48.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

16.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.91 IQD 22.1K

-59.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-23.42%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$151 IQD 197.3K

104.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,327 IQD 4.4M

347.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

102.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.18 IQD 33.0K

3.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$62.0 IQD 81.2K

33.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$40.64 IQD 53.2K

73.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$241 IQD 315.8K

79.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$179 IQD 234.1K

33.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$580 IQD 759.4K

41.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$348 IQD 456.2K

46.97%

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

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 Al Kazimiyah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Al Kazimiyah. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $160, with Al Kazimiyah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Al Kazimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Kazimiyah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,084 in Al Kazimiyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $241 in Al Kazimiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Kazimiyah – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $723 in Al Kazimiyah – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Kazimiyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Al Kazimiyah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al Kazimiyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Kazimiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.