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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $942 in Diyarbakir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,387 in Diyarbakir, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,832 in Diyarbakir, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Diyarbakir, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Diyarbakir are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Diyarbakir 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$5.09 ₺229

-61.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$19.25 ₺865

-4.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$6.17 ₺277

21.56%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$2.22 ₺99.6

-13.06%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.01 ₺45.30

-22.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.24 ₺10.70

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.98 ₺89.0

8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.49 ₺112

49.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.04 ₺46.95

64.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.47 ₺21.28

231.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.99 ₺89.6

-40.70%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$1.19 ₺53.6

66.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$6.29 ₺283

155.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$2.47 ₺111

28.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$12.64 ₺568

-13.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.05 ₺47.20

150.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.56 ₺70.1

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$0.79 ₺35.48

108.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.73 ₺32.84

110.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.39 ₺17.68

253.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.37 ₺16.57

216.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.65 ₺29.43

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.36 ₺16.17

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.08 ₺93.7

117.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$5.40 ₺243

239.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.98 ₺89.2

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$2.51 ₺113

26.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.63 ₺28.13

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$30.58 ₺1,375

-37.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.75 ₺33.65

88.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.66 ₺29.65

98.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$7.80 ₺351

3.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.12 ₺50.2

14.29%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$38.7K ₺1.7M

-45.03%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$42.7K ₺1.9M

-49.17%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$73.8 ₺3,318

-6.25%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$7.56 ₺340

84.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$12.55 ₺564

43.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$43.60 ₺1,960

-2.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$20.56 ₺924

-67.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$8.92 ₺401

-33.63%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$217 ₺9,744

38.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$4,611 ₺207.2K

222.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$19.01 ₺855

195.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$25.44 ₺1,143

5.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$77.0 ₺3,461

10.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$51.4 ₺2,311

39.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$513 ₺23.0K

-15.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$398 ₺17.9K

-39.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$871 ₺39.1K

-8.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$710 ₺31.9K

-29.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$946 ₺42.5K

-33.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-86.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Diyarbakir: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $513 in Diyarbakir. 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 51% higher in Diyarbakir, 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 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Diyarbakir. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $153 in Diyarbakir – so Diyarbakir 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 Diyarbakir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Diyarbakir costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,413 in Diyarbakir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $217 in Diyarbakir. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 59% cheaper in Diyarbakir – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $942 in Diyarbakir, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $942 in Diyarbakir. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Diyarbakir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.