Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Diyarbakir and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,035 in Diyarbakir, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Diyarbakir, Turkey
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Diyarbakir
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,035
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Diyarbakir and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,035 per month in Diyarbakir vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Diyarbakir $1,035
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $1,533 per month in Diyarbakir vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Diyarbakir $1,533
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $2,031 per month in Diyarbakir vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Diyarbakir $2,031
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Diyarbakir costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Diyarbakir and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Diyarbakir 24% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64 ₺231
$2.24 ฿75.7
107.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.95 ₺994
$19.00 ฿642
5.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ₺434
$5.55 ฿188
56.76%
Cappuccino
$3.39 ₺169
$1.67 ฿56.6
102.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₺54.3
$0.64 ฿21.56
70.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₺15.93
$0.31 ฿10.32
3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 ₺149
$2.36 ฿79.6
26.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 ₺177
$3.66 ฿124
-2.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 ₺44.62
$1.95 ฿65.8
-53.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 ₺30.94
$1.44 ฿48.51
-56.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₺49.21
$1.33 ฿45.07
-25.56%
Eggs
$1.83 ₺91.2
$2.28 ฿77.1
-19.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.78 ₺338
$16.45 ฿556
-58.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 ₺287
$2.78 ฿94.0
107.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.95 ₺795
$9.31 ฿314
71.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 ₺65.5
$2.35 ฿79.5
-44.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 ₺75.6
$0.97 ฿32.82
56.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.76 ₺38.05
$1.60 ฿53.9
-52.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 ₺50.3
$1.50 ฿50.7
-32.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 ₺27.32
$1.28 ฿43.15
-57.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 ₺22.42
$1.10 ฿37.22
-59.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ₺38.22
$0.71 ฿23.84
8.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₺26.10
$0.49 ฿16.38
6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 ₺108
$4.14 ฿140
-47.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 ₺296
$17.52 ฿592
-66.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₺109
$1.61 ฿54.5
35.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ₺181
$2.78 ฿94.0
30.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 ₺24.09
$0.87 ฿29.33
-44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.1 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₺34.81
$1.16 ฿39.08
-39.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ₺29.12
$0.53 ฿17.82
9.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.42 ฿81.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ₺64.9
$1.45 ฿48.93
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8K ₺2.1M
$21.1K ฿711.2K
98.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K ₺1.9M
$26.9K ฿909.8K
41.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 ₺4,521
$62.2 ฿2,100
45.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.08 ₺503
$12.17 ฿411
-17.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.85 ₺790
$20.12 ฿680
-21.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.9 ₺3,932
$37.31 ฿1,260
111.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.59 ₺2,023
$3.77 ฿127
976.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.38 ₺268
$6.49 ฿219
-17.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$736 ฿24.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ₺2,726
$53.4 ฿1,802
2.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.78 ₺2,481
$24.64 ฿832
102.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 ₺4,808
$91.5 ฿3,089
5.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₺5,335
$71.9 ฿2,429
48.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$406 ₺20.2K
$482 ฿16.3K
-15.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 ₺18.1K
$309 ฿10.4K
17.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$696 ₺34.7K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-30.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 ₺28.4K
$633 ฿21.4K
-10.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Diyarbakir
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$822 ₺41.0K
$590 ฿19.9K
39.40%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Diyarbakir
$364
Chiang Mai
$309 15.2% $55
Groceries & Markets
Diyarbakir
$189
Chiang Mai
$234 23.9% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Diyarbakir
$139
Chiang Mai
$109 21.6% $30
Eating Out
Diyarbakir
$132
Chiang Mai
$78 41.1% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Diyarbakir
$117
Chiang Mai
$94 19% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Diyarbakir
$90
Chiang Mai
$50 43.9% $39
Getting Around
Diyarbakir
$5.6 *
Chiang Mai
$61 1006% $56

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Diyarbakir versus $482 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 39% higher in Diyarbakir. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Diyarbakir versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Diyarbakir vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Diyarbakir wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Diyarbakir
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
17:59 5:59 PM
21:59 9:59 PM
4 h ahead of Diyarbakir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,804,880
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 49.83 TRY (100 TRY = 2.01 USD). 1 EUR = 55.46 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Diyarbakir Chiang Mai 6,020 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Diyarbakir
  • Chiang Mai

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
Diyarbakir vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Diyarbakir or Chiang Mai?
Diyarbakir costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 $1,553 per month in Diyarbakir and $1,403 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 Diyarbakir, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $406 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How much does it cost to live in Diyarbakir compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,035 in Diyarbakir and $936 in Chiang Mai. That’s a gap of about 11%.
Are groceries more expensive in Diyarbakir or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 19% 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 $800/month in Diyarbakir or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,035 in Diyarbakir and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Diyarbakir or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,035 in Diyarbakir. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
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.

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