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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $471 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $755 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,038 in Mashhad, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 95% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mashhad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Mashhad 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.95 $2.95

-28.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$18.93 $18.93

4.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$4.87 $4.87

20.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 $0.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.09 $1.09

61.47%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.43 $0.43

72.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.26 $0.26

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.55 $0.55

245.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.24 $0.24

595.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.86 $1.86

-27.42%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.03 $1.03

107.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$1.83 $1.83

768.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$2.32 $2.32

21.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$9.92 $9.92

6.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$0.81 $0.81

193.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.35 $1.35

-20.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$0.75 $0.75

102.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.59 $0.59

154.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.49 $0.49

161.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.47 $0.47

134.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.52 $0.52

32.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.24 $0.24

104.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 $0.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.67 $2.67

59.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$4.37 $4.37

1156.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.34 $0.34

252.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.48 $0.48

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.02 $2.02

17.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.82 $0.82

74.39%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$59.8K $59.8K

-64.74%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$66.1K $66.1K

-58.95%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$12.17 $12.17

431.96%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$2.56 $2.56

415.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$27.40 $27.40

-29.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$19.79 $19.79

99.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$14.85 $14.85

-74.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$2.02 $2.02

227.72%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$41.43 $41.43

1843.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$624 $624

2323.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$19.95 $19.95

174.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$38.17 $38.17

-33.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$95.4 $95.4

-3.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$70.2 $70.2

6.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$210 $210

122.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$152 $152

85.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$408 $408

118.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$280 $280

86.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$1,147 $1,147

73.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$678 $678

115.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$257 $257

130.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.6

-74.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $210 in Mashhad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 131% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $92.0 – making Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 95% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $707 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $41.43 in Mashhad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 158% 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 Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $471, than in Chiang Mai at $920. 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 $471 versus $920 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.