Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and As Samawah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and As Samawah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $895 in As Samawah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $1,362 in As Samawah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $1,828 in As Samawah.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 3% less than in As Samawah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, As Samawah 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.25 IQD 6,880

-62.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$36.58 IQD 47.9K

-48.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.56 IQD 9,893

2.51%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.08 IQD 4,032

-37.66%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.39 IQD 517

102.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 IQD 228

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.50 IQD 4,585

-36.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.93 IQD 3,832

24.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.35 IQD 1,770

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.78 IQD 1,027

108.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.65 IQD 2,157

-27.88%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.63 IQD 2,139

22.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$4.63 IQD 6,061

245.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.99 IQD 6,536

-39.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

-23.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.03 IQD 1,344

167.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.98 IQD 1,280

20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.71 IQD 935

130.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.51 IQD 672

198.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.64 IQD 845

115.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.68 IQD 889

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.34 IQD 449

105.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.62 IQD 806

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.16 IQD 2,831

112.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

110.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.77 IQD 2,317

3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.19 IQD 2,868

46.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.40 IQD 519

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$30.96 IQD 40.5K

-39.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.93 IQD 5,143

-65.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.49 IQD 1,952

-10.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

0.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.57 IQD 746

115.79%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

6.94%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

11.38%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$175 IQD 228.8K

-59.62%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

-46.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

-57.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$36.29 IQD 47.5K

13.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

-58.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$7.69 IQD 10.1K

-24.97%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$164 IQD 215.1K

86.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$3,589 IQD 4.7M

307.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$28.94 IQD 37.9K

92.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$31.14 IQD 40.8K

-15.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$64.0 IQD 83.8K

33.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$44.11 IQD 57.8K

63.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$242 IQD 316.6K

77.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$175 IQD 229.5K

36.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$579 IQD 758.5K

41.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$348 IQD 456.2K

46.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for As Samawah: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Chiang Mai and $242 in As Samawah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $37.00 in As Samawah. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $173, with As Samawah 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 As Samawah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $1,343 in As Samawah 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: $430 in Chiang Mai versus $242 in As Samawah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 65% less than in As Samawah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $307 in Chiang Mai versus $164 in As Samawah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in As Samawah, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and As Samawah 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in As Samawah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.