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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $975 in İzmit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,565 in İzmit, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,155 in İzmit, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than İzmit, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and İzmit are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, İzmit 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$7.21 ₺346

-70.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$35.22 ₺1,691

-43.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$8.35 ₺401

-29.94%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$3.46 ₺166

-49.13%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.05 ₺50.2

-29.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.30 ₺14.36

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$2.51 ₺120

-1.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$3.01 ₺145

28.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.89 ₺42.65

113.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.88 ₺42.38

89.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$2.37 ₺114

-43.04%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$2.18 ₺105

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$8.56 ₺411

85.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$4.08 ₺196

-30.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$18.81 ₺903

-44.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.71 ₺82.1

39.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.98 ₺95.2

-45.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.04 ₺49.72

46.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.29 ₺62.1

16.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.59 ₺28.51

116.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.36 ₺17.11

205.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.77 ₺36.81

-10.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.69 ₺33.08

-28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.28 ₺110

87.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$8.37 ₺402

100.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.23 ₺107

-25.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.35 ₺113

19.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.76 ₺36.61

18.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$31.67 ₺1,520

73.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.06 ₺51.1

13.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$1.16 ₺55.9

-53.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$4.41 ₺212

-46.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.30 ₺62.2

10.00%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$43.1K ₺2.1M

-51.10%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$41.0K ₺2.0M

-33.89%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$45.72 ₺2,194

41.60%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$11.63 ₺558

13.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$13.22 ₺635

47.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$53.4 ₺2,561

-26.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$5.20 ₺249

27.31%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$468 ₺22.5K

72.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$6,265 ₺300.7K

141.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$50.6 ₺2,428

8.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$54.8 ₺2,628

-53.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$105 ₺5,045

-12.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$92.5 ₺4,439

-19.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$434 ₺20.8K

7.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$320 ₺15.4K

-11.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$735 ₺35.3K

21.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$582 ₺27.9K

-10.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$1,278 ₺61.3K

55.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,014 ₺48.7K

44.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

40.17

-86.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for İzmit: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $434 in İzmit. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in İzmit. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in İzmit – so İzmit 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 İzmit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

İzmit costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,462 in İzmit. 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $468 in İzmit. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in İzmit – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $920, than in İzmit at $975. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in İzmit it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $975 in İzmit. 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, İzmit makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.