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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $692 in Tehran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,123 in Tehran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,555 in Tehran, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Tehran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tehran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tehran 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$4.05 $4.05

-51.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$18.29 $18.29

0.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$5.10 $5.10

46.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.30 $1.30

55.38%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.45 $0.45

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.08 $1.08

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.58 $0.58

184.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.54 $0.54

190.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.85 $1.85

-35.68%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.19 $1.19

63.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$3.36 $3.36

381.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.36 $3.36

-11.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.76 $10.76

1.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.93 $0.93

191.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.41 $1.41

-17.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.82 $0.82

106.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.63 $0.63

153.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.51 $0.51

170.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.50 $0.50

140.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.60 $0.60

11.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.25 $0.25

124.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.45 $2.45

89.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.24 $0.24

266.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$9.90 $9.90

95.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.48 $0.48

183.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.29 $0.29

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$3.08 $3.08

166.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.78 $0.78

56.41%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$79.7K $79.7K

-73.20%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$53.9K $53.9K

-58.17%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$15.97 $15.97

342.52%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$2.17 $2.17

547.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$5.60 $5.60

212.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$22.81 $22.81

84.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.73 $11.73

-41.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$1.53 $1.53

286.93%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$127 $127

142.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,949 $1,949

663.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$31.39 $31.39

77.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$34.37 $34.37

-24.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$124 $124

-33.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$69.9 $69.9

0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$491 $491

-12.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$347 $347

-31.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$1,012 $1,012

-18.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$719 $719

-28.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,244 $1,244

53.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$734 $734

99.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$217 $217

166.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

-80.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tehran: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $491 in Tehran. 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 167% 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 $18.00 in Tehran. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $110 in Tehran – so Tehran 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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Tehran, 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 $1,038 in Tehran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tehran, 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 $127 in Tehran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 121% 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 $692 in Tehran, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tehran costs $692 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 Tehran. 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.