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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $743 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,118 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,492 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Baghdadi 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$5.03 IQD 6,588

-61.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$17.32 IQD 22.7K

8.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.91 IQD 9,057

14.62%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.75 IQD 2,287

9.14%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.42 IQD 553

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.24 IQD 314

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.98 IQD 3,905

-25.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.79 IQD 3,658

36.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.09 IQD 1,432

50.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.62 IQD 819

161.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.29 IQD 2,996

-48.47%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.76 IQD 2,310

14.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$5.76 IQD 7,545

175.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.53 IQD 5,931

-33.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.42 IQD 12.3K

14.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.03 IQD 1,346

153.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.01 IQD 1,329

20.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.02 IQD 1,330

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.53 IQD 691

198.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.54 IQD 707

144.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.67 IQD 884

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.64 IQD 835

4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.48 IQD 631

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.77 IQD 2,316

155.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

33.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.79 IQD 2,349

2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.17 IQD 2,844

48.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.37 IQD 480

140.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$31.34 IQD 41.1K

-38.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.34 IQD 3,068

-42.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.53 IQD 2,011

-11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$5.98 IQD 7,839

37.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.53 IQD 699

139.62%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

9.94%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

13.12%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$77.0 IQD 100.9K

-8.88%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.90 IQD 23.5K

-23.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

-49.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.02 IQD 48.5K

12.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$16.75 IQD 21.9K

-60.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.75 IQD 10.2K

-25.42%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$153 IQD 200.9K

99.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$3,309 IQD 4.3M

347.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$27.55 IQD 36.1K

97.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$25.49 IQD 33.4K

2.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$61.3 IQD 80.3K

37.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$41.54 IQD 54.4K

67.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$246 IQD 321.7K

72.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$177 IQD 231.7K

34.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$574 IQD 752.4K

43.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$345 IQD 452.1K

49.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,479 IQD 1.9M

38.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$502 IQD 658.2K

203.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$491 IQD 643.8K

29.27%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $246 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 29% 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: $243 vs $171 – 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 15%, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,115 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $743 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 62% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $743 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.