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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $752 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,169 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,586 in Sulaymaniyah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Sulaymaniyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sulaymaniyah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sulaymaniyah 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$5.40 IQD 7,068

-63.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$26.96 IQD 35.3K

-31.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.98 IQD 9,142

7.16%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.68 IQD 3,507

-24.63%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.39 IQD 512

117.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.21 IQD 274

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.04 IQD 2,675

4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.67 IQD 3,492

34.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.49 IQD 1,948

10.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.03 IQD 1,346

52.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.60 IQD 2,101

-25.63%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.69 IQD 2,219

14.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$5.79 IQD 7,586

179.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.43 IQD 4,492

-12.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$14.35 IQD 18.8K

-23.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.17 IQD 1,529

131.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.30 IQD 1,703

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.26 IQD 1,651

34.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.71 IQD 925

125.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.67 IQD 875

105.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.68 IQD 893

76.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.59 IQD 772

13.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.45 IQD 589

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.93 IQD 2,532

140.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

51.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.52 IQD 1,992

22.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.76 IQD 2,305

87.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.55 IQD 725

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$23.33 IQD 30.5K

-17.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.28 IQD 2,983

-40.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$2.29 IQD 2,993

-41.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.20 IQD 6,812

57.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.71 IQD 931

71.83%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$21.0K IQD 27.5M

1.87%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$20.9K IQD 27.4M

7.64%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-7.07%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$16.47 IQD 21.6K

-14.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$26.94 IQD 35.3K

-35.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$38.52 IQD 50.4K

9.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$17.02 IQD 22.3K

-59.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.47 IQD 9,776

-20.75%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$154 IQD 201.3K

100.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,465 IQD 4.5M

329.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$23.94 IQD 31.4K

132.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

2.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$43.60 IQD 57.1K

90.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$36.26 IQD 47.5K

94.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$236 IQD 309.5K

82.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$177 IQD 232.3K

34.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$574 IQD 751.2K

43.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$351 IQD 459.5K

45.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$828 IQD 1.1M

131.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$571 IQD 748.3K

156.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$575 IQD 753.3K

0.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-44.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $236 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 1% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Sulaymaniyah. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $184 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 14% more than Sulaymaniyah, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,128 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 in Sulaymaniyah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $752 in Sulaymaniyah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sulaymaniyah costs $752 versus $861 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.