Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $999 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,319 in An Najaf, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, An Najaf 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$4.00 IQD 5,232

-49.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$22.74 IQD 29.8K

-17.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.71 IQD 6,173

66.88%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.76 IQD 3,617

-26.45%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.36 IQD 478

122.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.20 IQD 268

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$3.45 IQD 4,521

-37.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.92 IQD 3,828

25.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.32 IQD 1,732

31.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.82 IQD 1,077

91.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.64 IQD 2,153

-26.83%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.74 IQD 2,276

13.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$2.37 IQD 3,110

584.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.99 IQD 6,536

-38.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$10.52 IQD 13.8K

2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.23 IQD 1,605

125.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.20 IQD 1,573

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.06 IQD 1,388

61.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.73 IQD 962

117.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.65 IQD 855

113.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.67 IQD 883

73.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.65 IQD 846

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.39 IQD 514

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.51 IQD 1,983

207.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$13.38 IQD 17.5K

32.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.79 IQD 2,338

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.09 IQD 2,733

59.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.36 IQD 475

152.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$33.79 IQD 44.3K

-44.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.96 IQD 2,561

-28.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.53 IQD 1,999

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$5.12 IQD 6,706

58.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.47 IQD 619

161.70%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

89.78%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

8.02%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

18.65%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

-40.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$34.30 IQD 44.9K

-47.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$29.48 IQD 38.6K

38.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-53.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$7.43 IQD 9,726

-23.01%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$169 IQD 221.0K

82.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$929 IQD 1.2M

1480.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$16.63 IQD 21.8K

235.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

3.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

31.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$43.02 IQD 56.3K

65.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$238 IQD 311.3K

78.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$135 IQD 176.3K

80.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$378 IQD 495.3K

110.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$156 IQD 204.3K

224.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,242 IQD 1.6M

54.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$495 IQD 648.3K

195.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$734 IQD 961.5K

-18.95%

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 An Najaf: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $238 in An Najaf. 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 23% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in An Najaf – so An Najaf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,019 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $680 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 81% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $680 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $680 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 An Najaf. 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.