Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Zanjan

For one person, living is cheaper in Zanjan: $428 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half 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 Zanjan
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Zanjan Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Zanjan

🇮🇷 Iran

$428

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $428 in Zanjan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Zanjan $428

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $768 in Zanjan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Zanjan $768

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,108 in Zanjan, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Zanjan $1,108

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Zanjan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Zanjan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Zanjan 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$2.91 $2.91

-21.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$12.89 $12.89

52.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$2.98 $2.98

88.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 $0.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$0.95 $0.95

74.74%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.52 $0.52

34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$1.13 $1.13

-72.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$0.70 $0.70

178.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.58 $0.58

143.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$3.21 $3.21

-59.19%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.23 $1.23

77.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$4.35 $4.35

282.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$3.43 $3.43

-19.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$9.26 $9.26

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.03 $1.03

132.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.50 $1.50

-31.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.81 $0.81

101.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.49 $0.49

206.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.53 $0.53

143.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.50 $0.50

122.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.41 $0.41

75.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.24 $0.24

120.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.68 $0.68

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 $0.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$1.80 $1.80

139.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.23 $0.23

273.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$10.06 $10.06

429.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$0.29 $0.29

317.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.29 $0.29

96.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$1.01 $1.01

132.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$0.03 $0.03

4700.00%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$50.5K $50.5K

-58.98%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$46.4K $46.4K

-42.25%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$12.92 $12.92

382.43%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$1.62 $1.62

647.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$3.80 $3.80

424.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$12.75 $12.75

190.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$12.70 $12.70

-70.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$1.96 $1.96

231.63%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$107 $107

642.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$2,543 $2,543

482.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$26.07 $26.07

106.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$37.20 $37.20

-33.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$115 $115

-20.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$76.3 $76.3

-6.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$136 $136

235.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$100 $100

196.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$385 $385

135.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$318 $318

74.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$790 $790

144.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$470 $470

207.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$283 $283

108.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-75.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Zanjan: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Zanjan

$100 23.5% 66.3% $197

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Zanjan

$115 26.9% 51% $120

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Zanjan

$114 26.7% 5.7% $6.2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Zanjan

$18 4.3% 80.6% $76

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Zanjan

$50 11.8% 36% $28

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Zanjan

$13 3% 79.1% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Zanjan

$17 3.9% 66.7% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $136 in Zanjan. 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 109% 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 $13.00 in Zanjan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $115 – making Zanjan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇮🇷 Zanjan

🕒 Local time

09:30 9:30 AM

06:00 6:00 AM

3 h 30 min behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

386,851

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

USD USD

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 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 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Zanjan 5,280 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Zanjan

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 Zanjan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 116% more than Zanjan, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $642 in Zanjan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $107 in Zanjan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 104% 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 Zanjan, where all-in costs run around $428, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Zanjan 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. Zanjan costs $428 versus $925 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 Zanjan. 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.