Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Isfahan

For one person, living is cheaper in Isfahan: $470 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Isfahan
Learn more

Isfahan Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Isfahan

🇮🇷 Iran

$470

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Isfahan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Isfahan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $470 in Isfahan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Isfahan $470

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $802 in Isfahan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Isfahan $802

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,134 in Isfahan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Isfahan $1,134

Chiang Mai costs about 100% more than Isfahan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Isfahan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Isfahan 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.07 $3.07

-26.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$12.72 $12.72

50.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$3.01 $3.01

85.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 $0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$1.01 $1.01

70.30%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.49 $0.49

30.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.48 $0.48

-31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$0.48 $0.48

327.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$0.46 $0.46

204.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$1.97 $1.97

-35.03%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$1.51 $1.51

49.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$2.76 $2.76

513.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$2.42 $2.42

13.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$10.57 $10.57

-11.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$0.76 $0.76

215.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$1.28 $1.28

-21.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$1.05 $1.05

53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$0.61 $0.61

149.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$0.61 $0.61

109.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$0.49 $0.49

126.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$0.59 $0.59

22.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.21 $0.21

147.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 $0.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$2.07 $2.07

109.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

$0.29 $0.29

193.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

$12.52 $12.52

330.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.51 $0.51

129.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$0.31 $0.31

83.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$2.04 $2.04

16.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$0.92 $0.92

57.61%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$67.9K $67.9K

-69.83%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$58.5K $58.5K

-54.68%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$10.26 $10.26

507.50%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$1.99 $1.99

516.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$7.48 $7.48

166.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$13.64 $13.64

177.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$13.19 $13.19

-71.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$1.02 $1.02

557.84%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$72.2 $72.2

1004.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$533 $533

2682.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$18.62 $18.62

185.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$23.77 $23.77

5.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$86.2 $86.2

6.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$37.85 $37.85

94.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$289 $289

60.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$192 $192

58.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$1,311 $1,311

-30.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$454 $454

21.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$1,176 $1,176

62.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$736 $736

95.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$203 $203

193.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

26.8

-79.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Isfahan: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Isfahan

$192 41% 36.8% $112

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Isfahan

$102 21.7% 57.2% $136

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Isfahan

$75 15.9% 31.6% $35

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Isfahan

$20 4.2% 79.1% $75

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Isfahan

$50 10.6% 37.3% $29

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Isfahan

$16 3.4% 74.3% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Isfahan

$16 3.3% 69.4% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $289 in Isfahan. 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 193% 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 $13.00 in Isfahan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $102 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇷 Isfahan

🕒 Local time

10:20 10:20 AM

06:50 6:50 AM

3 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,961,260

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Isfahan 4,940 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Isfahan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Isfahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 100% more than Isfahan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $705 in Isfahan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $72.2 in Isfahan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 134% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $470, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $470 versus $938 in Chiang Mai. 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 Isfahan. 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.