Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Baghdadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Baghdadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $473 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $766 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,059 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 101% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Baghdadi 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$7.59 IQD 9,935

-72.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$13.66 IQD 17.9K

45.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.87 IQD 2,453

-2.14%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.42 IQD 549

85.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.22 IQD 283

40.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.02 IQD 1,334

99.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.49 IQD 645

226.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.77 IQD 3,623

-48.74%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.75 IQD 2,287

24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.70 IQD 8,778

137.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.23 IQD 4,232

-4.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.23 IQD 10.8K

19.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.02 IQD 1,333

157.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.03 IQD 1,347

6.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.02 IQD 1,340

59.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.26 IQD 342

488.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.26 IQD 341

376.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.63 IQD 830

79.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.48 IQD 624

54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.57 IQD 751

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.02 IQD 1,330

319.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$14.92 IQD 19.5K

20.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.29 IQD 378

224.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$5.07 IQD 6,643

-75.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$7.09 IQD 9,289

-66.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.41 IQD 538

251.22%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$49.79 IQD 65.2K

30.41%

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$15.04 IQD 19.7K

38.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

-33.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$7.93 IQD 10.4K

-15.38%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$79.5 IQD 104.1K

890.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,094 IQD 6.7M

196.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$15.03 IQD 19.7K

274.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$25.48 IQD 33.4K

263.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$39.83 IQD 52.2K

88.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$151 IQD 198.0K

219.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$50.1 IQD 65.6K

473.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$449 IQD 587.8K

102.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$153 IQD 200.0K

247.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,517 IQD 2.0M

30.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$499 IQD 653.5K

190.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$498 IQD 652.4K

21.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-44.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $151 in Baghdadi. 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 21% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $151 – making Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 101%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $710 in Baghdadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $14.00 in Baghdadi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Baghdadi. 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.