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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,093 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,497 in Koysinjaq, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Koysinjaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Koysinjaq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Koysinjaq 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$7.46 IQD 9,765

-72.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$44.43 IQD 58.2K

-55.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.56 IQD 11.2K

-33.76%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.67 IQD 4,799

-50.68%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$1.02 IQD 1,336

-24.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.42 IQD 549

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$6.26 IQD 8,202

-64.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.53 IQD 5,931

-16.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.22 IQD 1,598

68.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.78 IQD 1,019

93.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.75 IQD 2,288

-20.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.79 IQD 2,347

26.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$8.27 IQD 10.8K

95.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$5.57 IQD 7,291

-47.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$14.83 IQD 19.4K

-36.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.13 IQD 1,483

137.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-2.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.18 IQD 1,548

37.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.81 IQD 1,054

80.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.71 IQD 932

80.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.72 IQD 946

47.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-8.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.55 IQD 725

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.51 IQD 3,282

68.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$12.30 IQD 16.1K

48.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.62 IQD 2,121

0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.06 IQD 2,703

40.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.95 IQD 2,551

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$1.73 IQD 2,270

-66.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$6.41 IQD 8,389

-62.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.62 IQD 814

133.87%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

16.30%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

34.91%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$128 IQD 167.8K

-50.33%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$13.79 IQD 18.1K

-6.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$28.35 IQD 37.1K

-27.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

-43.42%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$308 IQD 402.9K

154.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$3,106 IQD 4.1M

372.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$30.76 IQD 40.3K

79.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$45.05 IQD 59.0K

-45.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$69.0 IQD 90.4K

36.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$69.2 IQD 90.6K

6.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.53

120.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Koysinjaq: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Koysinjaq. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $203 in Koysinjaq – so Koysinjaq 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 Koysinjaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Koysinjaq, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,035 in Koysinjaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $44.00 in Koysinjaq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Koysinjaq, where all-in costs run around $690, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Koysinjaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Koysinjaq costs $690 versus $932 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.