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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $640 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $931 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,223 in Mashhad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Mashhad 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.67 IQD 6,120

-55.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$34.11 IQD 44.7K

-42.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.65 IQD 10.0K

-25.88%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.08 IQD 4,035

-41.23%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.40 IQD 519

92.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.24 IQD 312

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$3.88 IQD 5,082

-43.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.89 IQD 5,088

-2.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.05 IQD 1,371

95.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.82 IQD 1,076

84.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.58 IQD 2,067

-11.39%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$0.81 IQD 1,063

179.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$3.80 IQD 4,980

326.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.04 IQD 2,676

42.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$2.92 IQD 3,820

222.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.01 IQD 1,325

165.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.12 IQD 1,467

-2.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.98 IQD 1,281

65.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.68 IQD 889

114.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.67 IQD 873

91.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.64 IQD 837

65.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.31 IQD 407

132.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.21 IQD 274

152.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$0.76 IQD 996

456.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$13.55 IQD 17.7K

34.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.14 IQD 2,799

-23.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.26 IQD 2,953

28.32%

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

$2.25 IQD 2,947

-48.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$1.51 IQD 1,979

-61.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$7.52 IQD 9,851

-68.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.65 IQD 857

123.08%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

11.00%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

39.70%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$215 IQD 281.7K

-70.41%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$21.21 IQD 27.8K

-39.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$42.34 IQD 55.4K

-51.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$10.60 IQD 13.9K

-37.92%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$165 IQD 216.6K

373.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$3,514 IQD 4.6M

317.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$29.67 IQD 38.8K

85.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$38.11 IQD 49.9K

-35.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$74.5 IQD 97.6K

26.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$46.47 IQD 60.8K

59.16%

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

4.12

35.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Mashhad. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $127 in Mashhad – so Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Mashhad, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $960 in Mashhad. 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 $34.00 in Mashhad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 90% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Mashhad 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. Mashhad costs $640 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 Mashhad. 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.