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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $646 per month in Duhok vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,057 per month in Duhok vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,468 per month in Duhok vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Duhok is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Duhok and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Duhok 52% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 IQD 5,146

$1.98 ฿65.0

98.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.45 IQD 25.4K

$18.80 ฿619

3.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,081

$7.75 ฿255

-10.45%

Cappuccino

$2.53 IQD 3,311

$1.92 ฿63.2

31.77%

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

$0.42 IQD 555

$0.79 ฿26.07

-46.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.36 ฿11.74

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$2.21 ฿72.9

-47.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,524

$3.66 ฿120

-47.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,783

$1.65 ฿54.4

-17.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 IQD 1,124

$1.63 ฿53.7

-47.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.19 ฿39.28

31.93%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$2.00 ฿65.8

-6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 IQD 6,857

$15.98 ฿526

-67.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,826

$3.03 ฿99.6

-3.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.92 IQD 16.9K

$10.86 ฿357

18.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,469

$2.76 ฿90.9

-59.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,565

$1.18 ฿38.83

1.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,070

$1.64 ฿54.0

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$1.52 ฿50.0

-53.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$1.38 ฿45.59

-49.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 910

$1.19 ฿39.25

-41.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.70 ฿23.11

4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$4.58 ฿151

-59.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$16.56 ฿545

-23.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,884

$1.83 ฿60.2

-21.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$3.20 ฿105

-38.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.88 ฿28.87

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.86 IQD 20.7K

$18.72 ฿616

-15.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,919

$1.36 ฿44.64

63.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,017

$1.34 ฿44.12

14.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 IQD 7,949

$7.84 ฿258

-22.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 861

$1.23 ฿40.35

-46.34%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$21.6K ฿711.8K

-11.95%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$22.5K ฿742.2K

-12.20%

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

$93.8 IQD 122.7K

$70.5 ฿2,322

33.00%

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

$9.64 IQD 12.6K

$13.68 ฿450

-29.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.60 IQD 38.7K

$17.45 ฿574

69.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 IQD 67.8K

$41.33 ฿1,361

25.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 IQD 22.1K

$6.96 ฿229

142.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,737

$5.77 ฿190

28.94%

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

$115 IQD 150.0K

$307 ฿10.1K

-62.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,332 IQD 4.4M

$14.6K ฿481.0K

-77.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.15 IQD 13.3K

$55.8 ฿1,837

-81.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$26.21 ฿863

-24.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.07 IQD 39.3K

$85.8 ฿2,823

-64.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.79 IQD 25.9K

$72.2 ฿2,378

-72.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.3K

$430 ฿14.1K

-58.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 IQD 162.5K

$239 ฿7,857

-47.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$367 IQD 479.6K

$817 ฿26.9K

-55.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.3K

$511 ฿16.8K

-32.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$471 IQD 615.6K

$1,983 ฿65.3K

-76.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 IQD 515.0K

$1,484 ฿48.9K

-73.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$430 IQD 562.4K

$619 ฿20.4K

-30.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

186.60%

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

Last update for Duhok: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $180 in Duhok versus $430 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 44% 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 $19.00 in Duhok versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $241 – making Duhok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Duhok vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 34% more than Duhok, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $969 per month in Duhok and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Duhok and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $646 in Duhok and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Duhok costs $646 versus $869 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 Duhok. 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.