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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $725 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,072 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,420 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Koysinjaq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Koysinjaq 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.34 IQD 3,062

-12.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$12.41 IQD 16.3K

50.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.74 IQD 11.4K

-10.07%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.55 IQD 2,028

30.97%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.40 IQD 520

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.19 IQD 247

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.91 IQD 2,504

12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.13 IQD 2,783

72.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.18 IQD 1,540

46.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.78 IQD 1,025

101.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.13 IQD 1,480

6.19%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.55 IQD 2,027

27.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$7.21 IQD 9,441

125.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.88 IQD 5,080

-21.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$9.28 IQD 12.2K

16.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$0.78 IQD 1,026

255.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.13 IQD 1,473

3.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.12 IQD 1,469

52.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.56 IQD 732

183.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.59 IQD 778

135.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.59 IQD 769

96.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.36 IQD 477

83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.36 IQD 473

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.26 IQD 2,955

105.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$12.58 IQD 16.5K

41.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.42 IQD 1,862

26.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.95 IQD 2,549

71.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.40 IQD 520

127.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

-39.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.54 IQD 2,018

-8.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.75 IQD 980

78.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$3.74 IQD 4,892

116.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.66 IQD 860

86.36%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$19.5K IQD 25.5M

10.15%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$18.5K IQD 24.3M

17.83%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$102 IQD 133.0K

-29.79%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.42 IQD 22.8K

-19.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$30.39 IQD 39.8K

-41.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$37.06 IQD 48.5K

10.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$17.04 IQD 22.3K

-59.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-50.00%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

376.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,154 IQD 1.5M

1171.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$15.40 IQD 20.2K

262.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$18.99 IQD 24.9K

37.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$81.0 IQD 106.0K

4.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$19.48 IQD 25.5K

264.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$243 IQD 318.5K

73.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$177 IQD 231.2K

37.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$585 IQD 766.6K

36.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$340 IQD 445.3K

49.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $243 in Koysinjaq. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Koysinjaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $162 – making Koysinjaq the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Koysinjaq, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,087 in Koysinjaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $64.7 in Koysinjaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $725 in Koysinjaq, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Koysinjaq costs $725 versus $852 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 Koysinjaq. 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.