Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-mawsil Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-mawsil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $720 in Al-mawsil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,071 in Al-mawsil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $1,422 in Al-mawsil.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 18% more expensive than in Al-mawsil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$7.88 IQD 10.3K

-74.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$12.14 IQD 15.9K

54.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.57 IQD 7,296

41.11%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$0.80 IQD 1,051

153.75%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.39 IQD 513

105.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.16 IQD 214

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$0.99 IQD 1,301

116.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.55 IQD 2,030

136.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.90 IQD 1,172

92.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.76 IQD 994

106.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.06 IQD 1,383

13.21%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.95 IQD 2,559

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$7.48 IQD 9,791

116.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.23 IQD 4,232

-5.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$6.93 IQD 9,070

55.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.84 IQD 1,096

229.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.87 IQD 1,139

34.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.77 IQD 1,015

122.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.39 IQD 511

307.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.39 IQD 505

256.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.42 IQD 548

176.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.52 IQD 677

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.50 IQD 650

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.00 IQD 2,622

132.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$12.48 IQD 16.3K

42.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.43 IQD 1,867

25.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.97 IQD 2,578

69.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.36 IQD 474

152.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$31.06 IQD 40.7K

-39.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$2.19 IQD 2,866

-35.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.99 IQD 2,604

-32.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$3.29 IQD 4,303

146.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.32 IQD 425

284.37%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$15.5K IQD 20.2M

38.65%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

22.44%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$102 IQD 134.0K

-30.29%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.93 IQD 23.5K

-21.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

-33.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$23.79 IQD 31.2K

71.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$18.68 IQD 24.5K

-63.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$11.15 IQD 14.6K

-48.70%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$196 IQD 257.2K

56.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$696 IQD 911.7K

2008.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$14.02 IQD 18.4K

297.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$17.43 IQD 22.8K

49.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$83.1 IQD 108.8K

2.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$19.33 IQD 25.3K

267.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$243 IQD 318.5K

74.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$180 IQD 236.1K

34.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$588 IQD 769.6K

35.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$339 IQD 444.1K

49.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$601 IQD 786.5K

-0.93%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Al-mawsil: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al-mawsil pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $12.00 in Al-mawsil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $148 per month, with Al-mawsil cheaper across the board.

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-mawsil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-mawsil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Al-mawsil. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $243 in Al-mawsil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $308 in Chiang Mai versus $196 in Al-mawsil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

For families, Al-mawsil 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-mawsil 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-mawsil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.