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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $645 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $885 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,125 in An Nasiriyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 47% more than An Nasiriyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and An Nasiriyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, An Nasiriyah 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.31 IQD 4,336

-36.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$12.35 IQD 16.2K

60.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.02 IQD 9,194

-17.52%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.66 IQD 3,478

-31.20%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.37 IQD 484

110.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.17 IQD 228

82.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.90 IQD 5,107

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.79 IQD 4,963

-2.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.98 IQD 1,282

107.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.79 IQD 1,029

102.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.04 IQD 1,364

36.54%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.82 IQD 2,378

19.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$2.93 IQD 3,836

443.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.51 IQD 5,903

-31.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.12 IQD 1,469

134.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.08 IQD 1,414

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.82 IQD 1,068

98.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.47 IQD 613

225.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.36 IQD 477

244.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.59 IQD 775

91.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.56 IQD 732

32.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.50 IQD 650

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.48 IQD 1,945

189.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$13.76 IQD 18.0K

30.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.16 IQD 2,830

-21.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.22 IQD 2,901

30.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.28 IQD 361

235.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.35 IQD 3,073

-47.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.54 IQD 2,021

-65.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$2.35 IQD 3,072

2.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.61 IQD 798

136.07%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

9.71%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$18.7K IQD 24.4M

46.31%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$216 IQD 283.0K

-69.96%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$21.76 IQD 28.5K

-38.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$42.42 IQD 55.5K

-50.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

114.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

-36.70%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$170 IQD 222.4K

363.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,508 IQD 4.6M

331.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

395.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$37.87 IQD 49.6K

-34.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$26.51 IQD 34.7K

249.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$38.23 IQD 50.1K

96.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$770 IQD 1.0M

-21.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.12

35.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for An Nasiriyah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 27% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in An Nasiriyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $160 – 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: $950 in Chiang Mai, $645 in An Nasiriyah – roughly 47% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $968 in An Nasiriyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $645 in An Nasiriyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $170 in An Nasiriyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in An Nasiriyah, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In An Nasiriyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $645 in An Nasiriyah to $950 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.