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 $675 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,012 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,349 in An Najaf, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 26% 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 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.00 IQD 5,236

-51.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$22.73 IQD 29.8K

-17.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.66 IQD 6,104

69.96%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.74 IQD 3,595

-30.29%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.37 IQD 480

127.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.17 IQD 226

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.54 IQD 4,639

-37.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.82 IQD 3,695

34.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.38 IQD 1,806

18.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.84 IQD 1,102

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.66 IQD 2,174

-28.92%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.79 IQD 2,339

12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$2.30 IQD 3,008

590.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.09 IQD 6,664

-40.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.77 IQD 14.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.27 IQD 1,662

105.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.16 IQD 1,514

5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.06 IQD 1,387

60.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.74 IQD 971

113.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.65 IQD 850

103.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.67 IQD 884

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.60 IQD 790

11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.37 IQD 483

51.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.49 IQD 1,946

204.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$13.42 IQD 17.6K

35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.76 IQD 2,307

3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.16 IQD 2,834

49.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.36 IQD 477

147.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$34.31 IQD 45.0K

-43.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.93 IQD 2,531

-30.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.53 IQD 2,002

-11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.87 IQD 6,382

69.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.47 IQD 618

170.21%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$11.7K IQD 15.3M

80.72%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

11.88%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$59.6 IQD 78.1K

17.62%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$23.19 IQD 30.4K

-40.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$34.04 IQD 44.6K

-48.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$29.85 IQD 39.1K

39.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$15.09 IQD 19.8K

-56.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.61 IQD 9,967

-24.05%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$166 IQD 217.4K

84.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$913 IQD 1.2M

1523.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$16.29 IQD 21.3K

233.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$24.72 IQD 32.4K

5.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

29.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$42.68 IQD 55.9K

62.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$239 IQD 312.5K

77.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$134 IQD 175.8K

77.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$380 IQD 498.3K

116.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$153 IQD 200.1K

237.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,266 IQD 1.7M

61.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$481 IQD 630.0K

216.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$746 IQD 976.8K

-14.80%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $239 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 17% 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $172 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 26% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,013 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 $675 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 77% 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 $675 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $675 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.