Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Qom

For one person, living is cheaper in Qom: $436 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 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
21

Cost of Living Index in Qom
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Qom Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$935

/mo nomad

Qom

🇮🇷 Iran

$436

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $436 in Qom, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Qom $436

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $847 in Qom, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Qom $847

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,257 in Qom, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Qom $1,257

Chiang Mai costs about 114% more than Qom, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Qom are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Qom 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

$3.05 $3.05

-30.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

$15.89 $15.89

17.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

$3.91 $3.91

43.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.52 $0.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

$1.01 $1.01

64.36%

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

$0.65 ฿21.82

$0.41 $0.41

58.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

$1.73 $1.73

-82.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

$0.53 $0.53

281.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.62 $0.62

127.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.94

$1.70 $1.70

-18.24%

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

$1.02 $1.02

132.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

$2.81 $2.81

487.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

$3.13 $3.13

-14.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

$7.45 $7.45

21.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

$0.79 $0.79

203.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.12

$1.46 $1.46

-28.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$0.99 $0.99

67.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

$0.47 $0.47

231.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.75

$0.47 $0.47

163.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.65

$0.43 $0.43

153.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

$0.26 $0.26

192.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.34

$0.26 $0.26

96.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.77 $0.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 $0.47

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

$1.22 $1.22

237.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.52

$0.17 $0.17

447.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,784

$14.48 $14.48

265.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$0.26 $0.26

353.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.78

$0.25 $0.25

-32.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

$1.02 $1.02

77.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.67

$0.08 $0.08

1737.50%

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

$21.0K ฿708.7K

$50.7K $50.7K

-58.59%

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

$26.5K ฿894.4K

$46.1K $46.1K

-42.46%

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

$62.6 ฿2,110

$12.79 $12.79

389.13%

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

$11.60 ฿391

$1.27 $1.27

813.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

$3.97 $3.97

411.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

$8.60 $8.60

340.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

$9.86 $9.86

-62.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

$0.98 $0.98

564.29%

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$108 $108

571.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.0K

$2,623 $2,623

531.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,806

$15.29 $15.29

250.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿836

$12.99 $12.99

90.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,049

$100 $100

-9.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

$49.43 $49.43

45.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

$237 $237

103.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

$160 $160

93.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

$578 $578

83.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

$573 $573

14.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.5K

$885 $885

173.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

$611 $611

163.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

$216 $216

175.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

20.33

-72.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Qom: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Qom

$160 36.6% 48.4% $150

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Qom

$94 21.6% 60.2% $142

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Qom

$80 18.4% 26% $28

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Qom

$18 4.1% 80.9% $76

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Qom

$57 13% 25.7% $20

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Qom

$17 3.8% 71.6% $42

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Qom

$11 2.4% 79.3% $40

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $237 in Qom. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $16 in Qom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $94 – making Qom the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇷 Qom

🕒 Local time

15:16 3:16 PM

11:46 11:46 AM

3 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,075,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 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 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Qom 5,040 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Qom

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 Qom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 114% more than Qom, 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 $655 in Qom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qom, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $237 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $108 in Qom. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 151% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Qom, where all-in costs run around $436, than in Chiang Mai at $935. In Qom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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 Qom. 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.