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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 19% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 30.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 17.6% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 39.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
$5.06 IQDย 6,634
-61.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 เธฟ587
$15.45 IQDย 20.3K
20.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 เธฟ249
$5.44 IQDย 7,131
45.59%
Cappuccino
$2.02 เธฟ63.7
$1.59 IQDย 2,081
27.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.45
$0.39 IQDย 515
115.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.07
$0.28 IQDย 364
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
$1.96 IQDย 2,568
13.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 เธฟ113
$2.81 IQDย 3,688
27.76%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 เธฟ52.4
$1.17 IQDย 1,541
42.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
$0.74 IQDย 973
118.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 เธฟ37.83
$1.50 IQDย 1,972
-20.00%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
$1.74 IQDย 2,285
10.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 เธฟ503
$5.22 IQDย 6,847
206.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
$4.66 IQDย 6,110
-32.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 เธฟ344
$9.88 IQDย 13.0K
10.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
$0.92 IQDย 1,205
190.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ36.99
$1.04 IQDย 1,364
13.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
$0.95 IQDย 1,250
72.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ49.83
$0.72 IQDย 941
120.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 เธฟ41.64
$0.69 IQDย 905
91.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ37.49
$0.55 IQDย 716
116.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.20
$0.60 IQDย 784
18.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ17.75
$0.59 IQDย 776
-5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 เธฟ146
$1.94 IQDย 2,549
139.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 เธฟ596
$11.61 IQDย 15.2K
63.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 เธฟ55.7
$1.07 IQDย 1,404
65.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ101
$2.09 IQDย 2,741
53.11%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.32
$0.37 IQDย 480
143.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 เธฟ605
$31.68 IQDย 41.5K
-39.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ42.78
$2.27 IQDย 2,979
-40.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 เธฟ42.37
$1.55 IQDย 2,035
-12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 เธฟ256
$7.82 IQDย 10.2K
4.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 เธฟ38.43
$0.48 IQDย 635
154.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K เธฟ671.8K
$11.5K IQDย 15.1M
85.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ683.8K
$14.5K IQDย 19.0M
49.75%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
$71.5 IQDย 93.7K
-1.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 เธฟ437
$24.91 IQDย 32.7K
-44.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ566
$49.60 IQDย 65.0K
-63.71%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 เธฟ1,314
$22.92 IQDย 30.1K
82.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 เธฟ214
$16.88 IQDย 22.1K
-59.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 เธฟ180
$8.92 IQDย 11.7K
-35.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 เธฟ9,693
$124 IQDย 163.2K
147.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ465.7K
$798 IQDย 1.0M
1756.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 เธฟ1,756
$17.01 IQDย 22.3K
228.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 เธฟ840
$13.92 IQDย 18.2K
91.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 เธฟ2,658
$30.65 IQDย 40.2K
175.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 เธฟ2,227
$32.35 IQDย 42.4K
118.95%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 เธฟ13.5K
$255 IQDย 334.5K
68.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,439
$148 IQDย 193.6K
60.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ25.5K
$350 IQDย 458.7K
131.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 เธฟ15.7K
$248 IQDย 324.8K
102.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
$990 IQDย 1.3M
122.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
$328 IQDย 430.7K
387.25%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Karbala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 เธฟ21.5K
$483 IQDย 633.8K
41.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.67
-11.82%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Karbala: January 11, 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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