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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 13% more expensive than Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Al-Rumaitha 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.07 IQD 5,330

-52.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.66 IQD 32.3K

-24.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.94 IQD 9,087

12.68%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.57 IQD 3,369

-24.12%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.39 IQD 516

117.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.16 IQD 216

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.86 IQD 3,743

-25.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.95 IQD 3,869

26.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.33 IQD 1,736

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.85 IQD 1,112

91.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.57 IQD 2,060

-27.39%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.78 IQD 2,329

8.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.38 IQD 5,740

270.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.73 IQD 6,192

-34.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.99 IQD 17.0K

-16.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.20 IQD 1,577

129.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.15 IQD 1,500

5.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.06 IQD 1,383

52.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.70 IQD 918

127.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.70 IQD 920

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.63 IQD 830

85.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.64 IQD 835

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.55 IQD 722

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.94 IQD 2,546

141.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$13.18 IQD 17.3K

41.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.84 IQD 2,414

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.14 IQD 2,806

50.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.37 IQD 483

143.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$31.62 IQD 41.4K

-39.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.34 IQD 3,070

-39.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.48 IQD 1,935

-12.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.14 IQD 8,044

27.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.54 IQD 703

135.19%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

13.42%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

11.23%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$76.9 IQD 100.7K

-10.17%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.44 IQD 22.8K

-19.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$34.89 IQD 45.7K

-48.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$36.96 IQD 48.4K

11.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

-57.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$7.64 IQD 10.0K

-22.51%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$150 IQD 196.0K

99.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,219 IQD 4.2M

364.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$27.34 IQD 35.8K

100.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.62 IQD 33.6K

4.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$62.5 IQD 81.9K

35.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

73.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$244 IQD 319.4K

75.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$176 IQD 229.9K

35.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$570 IQD 746.9K

40.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$343 IQD 449.5K

50.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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 Al-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $184, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,150 in Al-Rumaitha 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 65% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

For families, Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.