😐A single person spends $1,017 per month in Diyarbakir vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,504 per month in Diyarbakir vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,991 per month in Diyarbakir vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Diyarbakir costs about 7% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Diyarbakir and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Diyarbakir26% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94₺240
$2.10฿69.3
135.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.83₺1,011
$19.84฿656
4.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28₺354
$5.79฿191
25.73%
Cappuccino
$3.13₺152
$1.83฿60.4
71.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97₺47.25
$0.78฿25.61
24.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22₺10.67
$0.31฿10.37
-29.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04₺148
$2.34฿77.2
29.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54₺172
$3.70฿122
-4.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91₺44.07
$2.03฿67.1
-55.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.64₺31.11
$1.60฿52.7
-60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00₺48.70
$1.42฿46.75
-29.58%
Eggs
$1.82₺88.2
$2.18฿71.9
-16.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.20₺350
$15.91฿526
-54.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43₺167
$3.07฿102
11.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.52₺802
$9.87฿326
67.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36₺66.2
$2.63฿86.8
-48.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63₺79.3
$1.10฿36.19
48.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.79₺38.52
$1.63฿53.8
-51.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94₺45.65
$1.53฿50.6
-38.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59₺28.80
$1.24฿41.13
-52.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53₺25.70
$1.13฿37.37
-53.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82₺39.67
$0.74฿24.38
10.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45₺21.64
$0.50฿16.48
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29₺111
$4.28฿141
-46.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03₺293
$17.97฿594
-66.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28₺111
$1.70฿56.1
34.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67₺178
$2.90฿95.7
26.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50₺24.41
$0.94฿31.13
-46.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71₺34.27
$1.23฿40.76
-42.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60₺29.16
$0.53฿17.66
13.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40฿79.3
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25₺60.9
$1.44฿47.55
-13.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.2K₺2.1M
$21.2K฿700.2K
103.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K₺1.9M
$27.3K฿902.1K
43.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.8₺4,507
$64.9฿2,145
42.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23₺497
$13.35฿441
-23.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.83₺526
$20.83฿688
-48.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.3₺3,997
$40.42฿1,336
103.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.00₺2,039
$3.95฿131
963.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.80₺185
$6.71฿222
-43.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$787฿26.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.1K฿499.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0₺2,818
$56.2฿1,858
3.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8₺2,515
$24.95฿824
107.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101₺4,918
$92.7฿3,063
9.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₺5,403
$75.1฿2,482
48.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421₺20.4K
$484฿16.0K
-13.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365₺17.7K
$287฿9,491
27.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$719₺34.9K
$910฿30.1K
-20.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$578₺28.0K
$531฿17.5K
8.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$846₺41.1K
$605฿20.0K
39.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
29
5.57
420.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Diyarbakir: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $421 in Diyarbakir versus $484 in Chiang Mai. 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 40% higher in Diyarbakir, 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 $21.00 in Diyarbakir versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Diyarbakir vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Diyarbakir 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
Diyarbakir vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Diyarbakir or Chiang Mai?
Diyarbakir costs about 7% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Diyarbakir and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Diyarbakir and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Diyarbakir or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Diyarbakir compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Diyarbakir and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Diyarbakir or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Diyarbakir – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Diyarbakir or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Diyarbakir at $1,017. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Diyarbakir it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Diyarbakir or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,017 in Diyarbakir. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Diyarbakir compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Diyarbakir or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Diyarbakir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Diyarbakir vs other spots: cost of living compared