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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 21.3% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 29% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 38.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$5.01 IQD 6,556
-59.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
20.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$5.34 IQD 6,988
43.63%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.58 IQD 2,071
25.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.36 IQD 476
127.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.3 IQD 395
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.93 IQD 2,521
9.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.83 IQD 3,706
31.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.19 IQD 1,562
37.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.7 IQD 914
124.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.43 IQD 1,867
-16.78%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.75 IQD 2,290
13.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$5.2 IQD 6,811
207.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$4.85 IQD 6,348
-35.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
15.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$0.97 IQD 1,265
184.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.03 IQD 1,346
18.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$0.91 IQD 1,187
87.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.66 IQD 863
134.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.63 IQD 821
112.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.54 IQD 712
124.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.6 IQD 792
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.6 IQD 783
-11.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$1.94 IQD 2,537
143.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
39.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.02 IQD 1,334
75.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.19 IQD 2,869
46.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.37 IQD 482
154.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
-38.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.27 IQD 2,966
-37.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.5 IQD 1,958
-10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$7.68 IQD 10K
2.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.48 IQD 634
160.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
86.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$14.5K IQD 19M
50.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$70.3 IQD 92K
0.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
-44.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
-63.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
82.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
-59.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
-34.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$126 IQD 165.2K
143.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$785 IQD 1M
1772.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
217.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
87.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
180.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$32.09 IQD 42K
123.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$254 IQD 332K
71.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$148 IQD 193.2K
59.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$345 IQD 452.1K
137.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$242 IQD 317.3K
105.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
88.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$339 IQD 443.7K
355.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$504 IQD 659.7K
39.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.67
-11.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

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