Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Az Zubayr Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Az Zubayr

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $746 in Az Zubayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,165 in Az Zubayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,584 in Az Zubayr.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 15% more expensive than in Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Az Zubayr 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$4.00 IQD 5,233

-51.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.20 IQD 33.0K

-27.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.87 IQD 9,002

8.88%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.66 IQD 3,484

-24.06%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.36 IQD 476

136.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.21 IQD 279

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.89 IQD 3,782

-25.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.90 IQD 3,798

23.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.37 IQD 1,798

20.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.85 IQD 1,109

84.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.66 IQD 2,169

-28.31%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.72 IQD 2,257

12.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$4.63 IQD 6,064

249.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.78 IQD 6,266

-37.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.39 IQD 17.5K

-18.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.19 IQD 1,561

127.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.15 IQD 1,505

1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.00 IQD 1,315

69.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.75 IQD 976

113.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.68 IQD 897

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.64 IQD 832

87.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.63 IQD 827

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.56 IQD 735

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.85 IQD 2,429

150.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.85 IQD 2,423

0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.09 IQD 2,734

57.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.39 IQD 515

125.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$31.63 IQD 41.4K

-38.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$2.32 IQD 3,036

-41.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.53 IQD 2,009

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.17 IQD 8,076

33.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.57 IQD 748

114.04%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

10.93%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

14.38%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$78.4 IQD 102.6K

-9.85%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.77 IQD 23.3K

-20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$34.27 IQD 44.9K

-48.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$37.29 IQD 48.8K

13.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.76 IQD 21.9K

-58.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.87 IQD 10.3K

-24.78%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$152 IQD 198.5K

103.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,290 IQD 4.3M

352.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

106.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$25.31 IQD 33.1K

3.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$61.1 IQD 80.0K

35.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$40.71 IQD 53.3K

73.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$242 IQD 317.0K

78.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$175 IQD 229.6K

36.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$585 IQD 766.2K

40.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$346 IQD 453.0K

48.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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 12, 2026

Last update for Az Zubayr: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Az Zubayr. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $160, with Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Az Zubayr differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $746 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,119 in Az Zubayr 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Az Zubayr gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.