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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 11% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Al-Rumaitha 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$4.00 IQD 5,239

-51.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.15 IQD 32.9K

-27.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.71 IQD 8,785

11.48%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.60 IQD 3,408

-22.31%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.39 IQD 515

117.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.20 IQD 265

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.86 IQD 3,745

-25.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.91 IQD 3,809

23.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.33 IQD 1,738

24.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.79 IQD 1,031

98.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.66 IQD 2,168

-28.31%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.74 IQD 2,274

11.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.37 IQD 5,727

270.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.61 IQD 6,039

-35.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.31 IQD 17.4K

-17.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.20 IQD 1,570

125.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.15 IQD 1,507

1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.02 IQD 1,330

65.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.74 IQD 964

116.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.65 IQD 845

112.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.67 IQD 872

79.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.62 IQD 813

8.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.55 IQD 722

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.89 IQD 2,479

145.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.90 IQD 16.9K

36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.85 IQD 2,421

0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.08 IQD 2,727

58.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.36 IQD 478

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$31.29 IQD 41.0K

-38.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$2.33 IQD 3,054

-41.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.49 IQD 1,957

-10.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.92 IQD 7,756

38.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.57 IQD 751

114.04%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

11.04%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

14.96%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$78.1 IQD 102.3K

-9.54%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.49 IQD 22.9K

-19.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$34.43 IQD 45.1K

-49.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$36.84 IQD 48.2K

14.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$17.12 IQD 22.4K

-59.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.63 IQD 9,995

-22.41%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$153 IQD 200.1K

101.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,328 IQD 4.4M

347.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

107.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.05 IQD 32.8K

4.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$62.3 IQD 81.5K

33.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$40.45 IQD 53.0K

74.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$239 IQD 313.3K

80.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$179 IQD 234.9K

33.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$584 IQD 764.6K

40.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$338 IQD 442.7K

51.46%

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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $183, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,165 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 62% 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 11% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.