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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $803 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,161 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,520 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, An Nasiriyah 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$3.17 IQD 4,152

-35.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$12.48 IQD 16.3K

49.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$7.02 IQD 9,197

11.97%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.70 IQD 3,532

-24.81%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.36 IQD 473

122.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.19 IQD 246

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$3.51 IQD 4,595

-39.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$2.85 IQD 3,739

28.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.87 IQD 1,142

98.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.84 IQD 1,100

86.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.37 IQD 1,797

-12.41%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$1.66 IQD 2,171

18.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$3.23 IQD 4,230

402.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.84 IQD 5,032

-20.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.23 IQD 1,606

125.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.16 IQD 1,523

0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$0.81 IQD 1,062

111.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.41 IQD 534

287.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.40 IQD 528

247.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.55 IQD 715

110.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.51 IQD 672

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.44 IQD 576

18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.61 IQD 2,102

188.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$13.39 IQD 17.5K

32.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.77 IQD 2,321

1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.18 IQD 2,852

53.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.23 IQD 301

295.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$31.24 IQD 40.9K

-40.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$2.36 IQD 3,095

-40.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$1.53 IQD 2,010

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$2.95 IQD 3,859

174.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$0.54 IQD 704

127.78%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

7.28%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$15.1K IQD 19.8M

44.55%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$175 IQD 229.5K

-59.31%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$26.02 IQD 34.1K

-46.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$40.42 IQD 52.9K

-55.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$19.44 IQD 25.5K

109.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$16.74 IQD 21.9K

-58.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-26.76%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$166 IQD 217.1K

85.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$3,538 IQD 4.6M

314.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$11.53 IQD 15.1K

383.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$30.18 IQD 39.5K

-13.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$26.81 IQD 35.1K

216.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$37.93 IQD 49.7K

87.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$246 IQD 322.6K

71.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$177 IQD 231.7K

37.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$587 IQD 768.3K

35.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$339 IQD 443.5K

49.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$776 IQD 1.0M

-23.31%

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 Nasiriyah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $246 in An Nasiriyah. 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 30% higher in An Nasiriyah, 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 $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $152 – making An Nasiriyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Nasiriyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $803 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 6% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,204 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Nasiriyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 68% less in An Nasiriyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $166 in An Nasiriyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $803 in An Nasiriyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $803 in An Nasiriyah to $852 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Nasiriyah. 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.