Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Az-zarqa' Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Az-zarqa'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $680 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,045 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,409 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Az-zarqa', driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Az-zarqa' are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Az-zarqa' 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.22 JOD 2.98

-53.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$25.76 JOD 18.23

-28.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$5.74 JOD 4.06

37.11%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$0.85 JOD 0.60

129.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.42 JOD 0.30

102.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.36 JOD 0.26

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$4.33 JOD 3.07

-50.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$6.97 JOD 4.93

-47.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.37 JOD 0.97

21.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.51 JOD 0.36

205.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.69 JOD 1.20

-29.59%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.89 JOD 1.34

5.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$6.57 JOD 4.65

147.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$4.40 JOD 3.11

-27.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$9.54 JOD 6.75

13.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.61 JOD 1.14

64.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.35 JOD 0.95

-9.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.04 JOD 0.74

58.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$0.71 JOD 0.51

118.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.81 JOD 0.57

64.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.72 JOD 0.51

68.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$0.53 JOD 0.37

28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.54 JOD 0.38

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$3.52 JOD 2.49

32.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$6.84 JOD 4.84

148.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$4.34 JOD 3.07

-58.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$4.26 JOD 3.02

-25.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.61 JOD 0.43

49.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$21.00 JOD 14.86

-10.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.69 JOD 0.49

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.95 JOD 0.68

41.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$5.01 JOD 3.54

62.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.36 JOD 0.96

-5.88%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$27.5K JOD 19.4K

-20.53%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$27.5K JOD 19.5K

-18.63%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$98.7 JOD 69.8

-28.56%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$13.25 JOD 9.38

6.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$23.34 JOD 16.52

-24.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$29.68 JOD 21.00

39.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$9.02 JOD 6.39

-25.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$9.71 JOD 6.87

-38.62%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$81.9 JOD 58.0

269.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$2,857 JOD 2,022

423.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$21.95 JOD 15.53

149.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$25.51 JOD 18.05

3.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$44.45 JOD 31.45

92.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$55.7 JOD 39.40

25.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$165 JOD 117

158.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$121 JOD 85.5

97.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$268 JOD 189

202.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$230 JOD 163

121.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$575 JOD 407

252.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$354 JOD 251

323.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$508 JOD 359

22.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.27

-31.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Az-zarqa': June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $165 in Az-zarqa'. 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 Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Az-zarqa'. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $184 in Az-zarqa' – so Az-zarqa' 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 Az-zarqa': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $848 in Chiang Mai, $680 in Az-zarqa' – roughly 25% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,021 in Az-zarqa'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 12% less in Az-zarqa'. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $81.9 in Az-zarqa'. 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $680 in Az-zarqa', 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 $680 in Az-zarqa' to $848 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 Az-zarqa'. 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.