Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Masjed Soleyman

For one person, living is cheaper in Masjed Soleyman: $568 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
26

Cost of Living Index in Masjed Soleyman
Learn more

Masjed Soleyman Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Masjed Soleyman

🇮🇷 Iran

$568

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Masjed Soleyman

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Masjed Soleyman actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $568 in Masjed Soleyman, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Masjed Soleyman $568

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $876 in Masjed Soleyman, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Masjed Soleyman $876

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,183 in Masjed Soleyman, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Masjed Soleyman $1,183

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Masjed Soleyman, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Masjed Soleyman are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Masjed Soleyman 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$2.76 $2.76

-18.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$15.34 $15.34

23.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$4.06 $4.06

36.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$1.27 $1.27

31.50%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.43 $0.43

48.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$1.14 $1.14

-72.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.58 $0.58

236.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.57 $0.57

152.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$2.21 $2.21

-39.82%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.14 $1.14

100.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$4.30 $4.30

282.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$3.70 $3.70

-24.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.10 $10.10

-7.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.09 $1.09

115.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.78 $1.78

-45.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.92 $0.92

73.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.63 $0.63

138.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$0.55 $0.55

132.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$0.47 $0.47

134.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$0.56 $0.56

26.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.26 $0.26

88.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.76 $0.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.83 $2.83

46.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.13 $0.13

569.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$10.08 $10.08

436.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$0.44 $0.44

163.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.31 $0.31

70.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$2.42 $2.42

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$0.08 $0.08

1712.50%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$55.5K $55.5K

-62.07%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$47.4K $47.4K

-43.14%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$11.22 $11.22

454.10%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$1.54 $1.54

690.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$4.26 $4.26

372.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$20.28 $20.28

83.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$11.46 $11.46

-67.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$1.76 $1.76

268.75%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$98.1 $98.1

650.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$2,172 $2,172

579.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$25.45 $25.45

109.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$28.80 $28.80

-14.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$95.3 $95.3

-3.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$80.6 $80.6

-10.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$248 $248

94.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$238 $238

29.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$788 $788

27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$376 $376

68.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$1,276 $1,276

85.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$550 $550

188.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

24.3

-77.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Masjed Soleyman: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Masjed Soleyman

$238 41.9% 22.9% $71

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Masjed Soleyman

$118 20.7% 49.8% $117

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Masjed Soleyman

$104 18.2% 4.7% $5.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Masjed Soleyman

$17 3% 82% $77

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Masjed Soleyman

$56 9.8% 28.2% $22

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Masjed Soleyman

$13 2.2% 79.4% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Masjed Soleyman

$24 4.2% 52.7% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $248 in Masjed Soleyman. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $15 in Masjed Soleyman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $118 – making Masjed Soleyman the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇷 Masjed Soleyman

🕒 Local time

15:14 3:14 PM

11:44 11:44 AM

3 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

100,497

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

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Chiang Mai Masjed Soleyman 5,150 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Masjed Soleyman

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Masjed Soleyman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Masjed Soleyman, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $853 in Masjed Soleyman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Masjed Soleyman, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $248 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $98 in Masjed Soleyman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 99% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Masjed Soleyman, where all-in costs run around $568, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Masjed Soleyman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Masjed Soleyman – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Masjed Soleyman is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 39% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.