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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $737 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,137 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,537 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Baghdadi 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.88 IQD 6,388

-59.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

12.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.90 IQD 9,042

12.32%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.76 IQD 2,308

9.09%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.42 IQD 549

88.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.24 IQD 313

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.92 IQD 3,827

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.85 IQD 3,735

28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.14 IQD 1,490

44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.63 IQD 826

158.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.24 IQD 2,935

-46.88%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.69 IQD 2,219

18.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.74 IQD 7,517

178.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.38 IQD 5,735

-30.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$9.05 IQD 11.9K

20.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$0.97 IQD 1,273

184.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.98 IQD 1,288

20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.01 IQD 1,328

62.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.57 IQD 744

166.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.56 IQD 737

146.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.63 IQD 829

88.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.70 IQD 920

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.48 IQD 629

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$1.80 IQD 2,357

154.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.82 IQD 2,385

0.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.16 IQD 2,826

48.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.36 IQD 477

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$30.64 IQD 40.1K

-38.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.31 IQD 3,030

-41.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.48 IQD 1,932

-9.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.98 IQD 7,835

31.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.57 IQD 740

115.79%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

12.30%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

11.83%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$77.4 IQD 101.4K

-8.87%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

-23.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$34.54 IQD 45.2K

-49.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$36.46 IQD 47.7K

13.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

-59.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-25.55%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$149 IQD 194.9K

106.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$3,218 IQD 4.2M

354.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$27.30 IQD 35.7K

104.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.13 IQD 32.9K

4.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$60.7 IQD 79.5K

41.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

73.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$242 IQD 317.1K

77.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$182 IQD 237.7K

31.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$584 IQD 765.4K

39.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$345 IQD 452.2K

47.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,524 IQD 2.0M

30.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$506 IQD 662.5K

193.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$498 IQD 652.7K

24.15%

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 Baghdadi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $242 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 24% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $173 – 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 18%, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,106 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $737 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 64% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $737 in Baghdadi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.