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

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 18.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 13.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
$2.01 ฿64.4
291.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
$18.23 ฿583
25.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
$7.65 ฿244
12.16%
Cappuccino
$3.26 IQD 4,266
$1.92 ฿61.3
69.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 IQD 674
$0.84 ฿26.90
-39.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 262
$0.36 ฿11.39
-44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$2.19 ฿70.0
-10.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,824
$3.79 ฿121
-43.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.64 ฿52.4
-18.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 IQD 1,044
$1.62 ฿51.8
-50.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,359
$1.15 ฿36.88
56.52%
Eggs
$1.92 IQD 2,508
$1.94 ฿62.0
-1.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 IQD 9,801
$15.94 ฿510
-53.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,345
$3.10 ฿99.2
56.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
$11.07 ฿354
29.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,554
$2.71 ฿86.5
-56.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,564
$1.18 ฿37.69
0.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 IQD 1,563
$1.71 ฿54.5
-30.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,059
$1.61 ฿51.3
-49.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 880
$1.39 ฿44.53
-51.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 982
$1.15 ฿36.70
-34.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 968
$0.71 ฿22.76
4.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 IQD 742
$0.55 ฿17.60
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 IQD 3,545
$4.57 ฿146
-40.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
$18.87 ฿603
-33.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 IQD 1,899
$1.82 ฿58.2
-20.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 IQD 2,654
$3.21 ฿103
-36.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 778
$0.88 ฿28.16
-32.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
$18.89 ฿604
86.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,096
$1.41 ฿45.17
67.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 IQD 3,019
$1.30 ฿41.59
77.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.79 IQD 8,893
$8.20 ฿262
-17.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 IQD 845
$1.23 ฿39.18
-47.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
$21.2K ฿677.0K
-10.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
$22.3K ฿713.3K
-8.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
$69.9 ฿2,234
41.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
$14.07 ฿450
24.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
$17.70 ฿566
71.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
$41.41 ฿1,324
78.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
$6.69 ฿214
75.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
$5.74 ฿184
97.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 IQD 343.1K
$299 ฿9,566
-12.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
$15.0K ฿479.8K
-77.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
$54.8 ฿1,753
-39.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
$26.35 ฿842
82.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
$84.7 ฿2,706
-3.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
$69.7 ฿2,229
10.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 IQD 562.7K
$427 ฿13.6K
0.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 361.4K
$241 ฿7,697
14.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 IQD 947.4K
$811 ฿25.9K
-10.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 IQD 649.5K
$498 ฿15.9K
-0.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-45.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 IQD 854.3K
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-57.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$566 IQD 741.0K
$639 ฿20.4K
-11.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
5
186.60%

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

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

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

Erbil vs other spots: cost of living compared

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