Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Qazvin

For one person, living is cheaper in Qazvin: $644 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
31

Cost of Living Index in Qazvin
Learn more

Qazvin Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Qazvin

🇮🇷 Iran

$644

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Qazvin

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 Qazvin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $644 in Qazvin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Qazvin $644

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $923 in Qazvin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Qazvin $923

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,202 in Qazvin, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Qazvin $1,202

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Qazvin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Qazvin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Qazvin 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.5

$3.43 $3.43

-34.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿640

$15.98 $15.98

18.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$3.41 $3.41

62.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.4

$1.27 $1.27

31.50%

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

$0.64 ฿21.51

$0.41 $0.41

56.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.29

$1.72 $1.72

-81.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.7

$0.48 $0.48

306.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.41

$0.31 $0.31

364.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.97

$2.72 $2.72

-51.10%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.0

$0.91 $0.91

150.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿554

$4.35 $4.35

278.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.8

$2.06 $2.06

34.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$7.57 $7.57

22.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.3

$0.48 $0.48

389.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.75

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.8

$0.71 $0.71

125.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$0.51 $0.51

194.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.06

$0.51 $0.51

150.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.14

$0.48 $0.48

129.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.79

$0.49 $0.49

44.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.34

$0.29 $0.29

68.97%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.81 $0.81

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.55 $2.55

62.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿590

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.27

$0.13 $0.13

569.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,823

$9.65 $9.65

460.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.00

$0.18 $0.18

544.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.78

$0.31 $0.31

70.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.6

$1.98 $1.98

22.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.82

$0.08 $0.08

1712.50%

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

$21.1K ฿709.7K

$42.6K $42.6K

-50.60%

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

$26.9K ฿907.9K

$45.3K $45.3K

-40.47%

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

$62.2 ฿2,095

$12.88 $12.88

382.69%

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

$12.17 ฿410

$1.61 $1.61

655.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿678

$3.99 $3.99

404.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,257

$12.38 $12.38

201.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$9.95 $9.95

-62.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$1.02 $1.02

536.27%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$30.07 $30.07

2348.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿497.6K

$761 $761

1839.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,799

$26.54 $26.54

101.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿830

$27.51 $27.51

-10.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,083

$98.4 $98.4

-7.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,424

$50.6 $50.6

42.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$509 $509

-5.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$356 $356

-13.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$698 $698

44.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.3K

$497 $497

27.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.6K

$1,145 $1,145

106.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$527 $527

201.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$311 $311

89.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-69.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Qazvin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Qazvin

$356 55.3% 15.1% $47

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Qazvin

$90 14% 61.4% $144

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Qazvin

$91 14.2% 15.9% $17

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Qazvin

$18 2.9% 80.4% $76

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Qazvin

$61 9.5% 20.8% $16

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Qazvin

$12 1.9% 80.5% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Qazvin

$14 2.2% 71.3% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $509 in Qazvin. 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 90% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $16 in Qazvin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $90 – making Qazvin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇷 Qazvin

🕒 Local time

12:06 12:06 PM

08:36 8:36 AM

3 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

402,748

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.97 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Qazvin 5,140 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Qazvin

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 Qazvin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Qazvin, 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 $965 in Qazvin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $509 in Qazvin. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $30 in Qazvin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 159% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $644 in Qazvin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $644 in Qazvin to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Qazvin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.