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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 18.9% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 31.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.9% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 42.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.3

$4.89 IQD 6,407

-58.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿590

$15.02 IQD 19.7K

23.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿237

$5.48 IQD 7,177

36.50%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.3

$1.66 IQD 2,169

20.48%

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

$0.85 ฿26.87

$0.37 IQD 482

129.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.15

$0.28 IQD 365

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.2

$1.90 IQD 2,486

16.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿119

$2.93 IQD 3,838

28.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.5

$1.18 IQD 1,549

45.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.8

$0.68 IQD 897

139.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.75

$1.43 IQD 1,869

-18.88%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.8

$1.72 IQD 2,259

15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿505

$5.23 IQD 6,844

204.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿100

$4.64 IQD 6,078

-31.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿346

$9.52 IQD 12.5K

14.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.9

$0.92 IQD 1,204

188.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.79

$1.08 IQD 1,411

12.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.8

$0.91 IQD 1,197

86.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.4

$0.67 IQD 883

137.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.00

$0.64 IQD 837

106.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.07

$0.51 IQD 666

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.50

$0.55 IQD 723

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.68

$0.62 IQD 817

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿143

$1.86 IQD 2,441

142.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.2

$1.06 IQD 1,382

66.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿101

$2.15 IQD 2,818

47.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.54

$0.36 IQD 478

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿599

$30.74 IQD 40.3K

-38.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿43.07

$2.27 IQD 2,970

-40.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.89

$1.49 IQD 1,949

-9.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿255

$7.60 IQD 9,956

5.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.43

$0.49 IQD 638

153.06%

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

$21.2K ฿671.3K

$11.3K IQD 14.9M

86.49%

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

$21.8K ฿690.1K

$14.3K IQD 18.7M

52.50%

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

$71.2 ฿2,260

$71.0 IQD 93.0K

0.35%

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

$14.09 ฿447

$24.77 IQD 32.4K

-43.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿554

$49.02 IQD 64.2K

-64.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,335

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

81.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

$16.89 IQD 22.1K

-59.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿188

$8.78 IQD 11.5K

-32.35%

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

$307 ฿9,750

$127 IQD 166.9K

141.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿469.3K

$769 IQD 1.0M

1823.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,766

$17.07 IQD 22.4K

226.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿850

$14.05 IQD 18.4K

90.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,640

$30.35 IQD 39.8K

174.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,224

$32.45 IQD 42.5K

116.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.6K

$249 IQD 326.2K

71.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,521

$148 IQD 193.8K

60.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.4K

$343 IQD 449.5K

133.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.0K

$248 IQD 325.1K

102.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.4K

$977 IQD 1.3M

110.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.6K

$325 IQD 425.7K

371.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.7K

$477 IQD 625.3K

36.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

-11.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Karbala: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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