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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,170 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,575 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sulaymaniyah 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿68.8

$4.55 IQD 5,959

-53.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿651

$23.34 IQD 30.6K

-15.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$6.94 IQD 9,094

-16.57%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.47 IQD 3,240

-25.91%

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

$0.78 ฿25.43

$0.46 IQD 596

69.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.30

$0.23 IQD 302

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.7

$4.48 IQD 5,865

-47.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿121

$2.26 IQD 2,958

63.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.6

$1.38 IQD 1,803

47.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.4

$0.90 IQD 1,183

77.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.43

$1.94 IQD 2,546

-26.80%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.4

$1.70 IQD 2,227

28.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿522

$5.03 IQD 6,585

216.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$3.57 IQD 4,681

-14.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$16.05 IQD 21.0K

-38.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.2

$1.30 IQD 1,707

102.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.94

$1.30 IQD 1,696

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.5

$1.19 IQD 1,563

36.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$0.68 IQD 891

125.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.84

$0.58 IQD 760

113.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.11

$0.74 IQD 964

52.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.21

$0.71 IQD 933

4.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.37

$0.50 IQD 651

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿140

$2.42 IQD 3,165

76.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿590

$11.35 IQD 14.9K

58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.85 IQD 2,429

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.0

$1.67 IQD 2,185

73.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.91

$0.60 IQD 782

56.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,814

$23.06 IQD 30.2K

139.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.48

$2.33 IQD 3,046

-47.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.53

$2.35 IQD 3,083

-77.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.8

$5.50 IQD 7,198

-56.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.22

$0.67 IQD 877

114.93%

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

$21.2K ฿695.3K

$20.5K IQD 26.8M

3.44%

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

$27.3K ฿895.9K

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

42.87%

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

$64.9 ฿2,130

$101 IQD 132.5K

-35.84%

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

$13.35 ฿438

$11.03 IQD 14.4K

21.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿684

$28.65 IQD 37.5K

-27.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,326

$35.86 IQD 47.0K

12.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$20.57 IQD 26.9K

-80.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿220

$7.85 IQD 10.3K

-14.52%

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

$787 ฿25.8K

$175 IQD 229.1K

349.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.2K

$2,899 IQD 3.8M

421.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,845

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

189.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿819

$25.14 IQD 32.9K

-0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,042

$42.60 IQD 55.8K

117.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,465

$37.79 IQD 49.5K

98.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$234 IQD 306.0K

107.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,425

$175 IQD 229.7K

63.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.8K

$513 IQD 672.3K

77.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$362 IQD 473.7K

46.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.0K

$800 IQD 1.0M

147.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.6K

$574 IQD 751.4K

152.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$572 IQD 749.1K

5.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.77

-3.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $234 in Sulaymaniyah. 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 6% 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 $23.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $188 in Sulaymaniyah – so Sulaymaniyah 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 Sulaymaniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Sulaymaniyah, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,147 in Sulaymaniyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $175 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sulaymaniyah, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sulaymaniyah 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. Sulaymaniyah costs $765 versus $950 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 Sulaymaniyah. 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.