😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $727 in Irbid, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,173 in Irbid, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,619 in Irbid, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Irbid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Irbid are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Irbid46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$4.25JOD 3.01
-53.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$42.67JOD 30.25
-55.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$6.96JOD 4.93
13.79%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.37JOD 0.97
39.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.50JOD 0.36
68.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.37JOD 0.26
-5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$5.02JOD 3.56
-55.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$6.88JOD 4.88
-44.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.17JOD 0.83
40.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.42JOD 0.30
285.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.60JOD 1.14
-26.25%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$1.83JOD 1.30
9.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$6.69JOD 4.74
137.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$5.60JOD 3.97
-46.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$11.67JOD 8.28
-7.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$1.40JOD 0.99
86.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.57JOD 1.11
-22.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.05JOD 0.74
61.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$0.58JOD 0.41
172.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.89JOD 0.63
48.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.73JOD 0.52
60.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.65JOD 0.46
3.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.59JOD 0.42
-5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$3.51JOD 2.49
29.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$7.09JOD 5.03
156.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$3.92JOD 2.78
-53.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$5.32JOD 3.77
-39.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.72JOD 0.51
23.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.48JOD 0.34
181.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$1.39JOD 0.99
-2.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$6.90JOD 4.90
19.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.46JOD 1.04
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$25.1KJOD 17.8K
-15.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$31.6KJOD 22.4K
-28.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$97.0JOD 68.8
-27.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$15.77JOD 11.18
-12.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$31.05JOD 22.02
-43.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$34.83JOD 24.70
19.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$19.06JOD 13.52
-65.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$9.68JOD 6.87
-40.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$94.2JOD 66.8
225.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$4,043JOD 2,866
266.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$45.04JOD 31.94
20.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$20.90JOD 14.82
25.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$68.0JOD 48.19
24.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$50.1JOD 35.51
38.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$211JOD 149
101.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$145JOD 103
63.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$363JOD 257
127.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$281JOD 199
83.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$510JOD 361
302.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$492JOD 349
209.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Irbid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$557JOD 395
14.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
7.27
-31.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Irbid: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $211 in Irbid. 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 14% 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 $43.00 in Irbid. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Irbid – so Irbid 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 Irbid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Irbid?
Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Irbid, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Irbid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,091 in Irbid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Irbid?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Irbid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Irbid?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $43.00 in Irbid. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Irbid?
Groceries cost about 25% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Irbid?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $727 in Irbid, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Irbid?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Irbid costs $727 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Irbid?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Irbid?
If budget matters most, go with Irbid. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared