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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $782 per month in Irbid vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,216 per month in Irbid vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,650 per month in Irbid vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Irbid is about 16% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Irbid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Irbid 43% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.17 JOD 2.95
$2.08 ฿69.5
100.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.23 JOD 29.90
$19.61 ฿655
115.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.00 JOD 4.96
$5.67 ฿189
23.46%
Cappuccino
$1.47 JOD 1.04
$1.81 ฿60.3
-18.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 JOD 0.35
$0.77 ฿25.65
-35.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 JOD 0.23
$0.35 ฿11.53
-8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.39 JOD 4.53
$2.21 ฿73.9
189.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 JOD 4.12
$3.79 ฿127
53.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 JOD 0.83
$2.05 ฿68.4
-42.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 JOD 0.32
$1.51 ฿50.6
-70.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 JOD 1.11
$1.40 ฿46.69
12.14%
Eggs
$1.81 JOD 1.28
$2.26 ฿75.4
-19.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.65 JOD 5.42
$16.19 ฿540
-52.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 JOD 3.36
$2.90 ฿96.7
63.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.54 JOD 8.88
$9.42 ฿314
33.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 JOD 0.99
$2.68 ฿89.4
-48.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 JOD 1.07
$1.09 ฿36.37
38.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 JOD 0.74
$1.62 ฿54.0
-35.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 JOD 0.41
$1.46 ฿48.74
-60.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 JOD 0.68
$1.28 ฿42.65
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 JOD 0.57
$1.06 ฿35.31
-24.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 JOD 0.44
$0.72 ฿23.94
-13.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 JOD 0.47
$0.53 ฿17.56
24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.47 JOD 2.46
$4.23 ฿141
-17.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.06 JOD 5.00
$18.29 ฿611
-61.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 JOD 1.98
$1.63 ฿54.4
71.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 JOD 2.98
$2.90 ฿96.8
45.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 JOD 0.52
$0.88 ฿29.32
-15.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.8 ฿1,795
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 JOD 0.36
$1.17 ฿39.14
-56.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 JOD 1.02
$0.58 ฿19.30
148.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.92 JOD 4.90
$2.39 ฿79.6
189.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 JOD 1.14
$1.45 ฿48.41
11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K JOD 18.7K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
25.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K JOD 21.9K
$26.4K ฿882.0K
17.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.4 JOD 69.0
$63.7 ฿2,125
53.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.74 JOD 11.15
$12.89 ฿430
22.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.53 JOD 22.32
$20.52 ฿685
53.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.62 JOD 24.51
$39.02 ฿1,302
-11.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.21 JOD 15.01
$3.92 ฿131
441.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.91 JOD 7.01
$6.58 ฿220
50.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.2 JOD 64.6
$784 ฿26.2K
-88.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,946 JOD 2,794
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-73.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.89 JOD 31.08
$55.1 ฿1,840
-20.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.68 JOD 20.30
$24.74 ฿826
15.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 JOD 56.9
$94.1 ฿3,142
-14.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.95 JOD 34.65
$74.0 ฿2,469
-33.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$221 JOD 157
$490 ฿16.4K
-54.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 JOD 116
$288 ฿9,620
-43.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$398 JOD 282
$891 ฿29.8K
-55.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$306 JOD 217
$521 ฿17.4K
-41.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$510 JOD 361
$1,974 ฿65.9K
-74.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$500 JOD 354
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-65.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$553 JOD 392
$602 ฿20.1K
-8.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
5.57
22.26%

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

Last update for Irbid: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $221 in Irbid versus $490 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 9% 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 $42.00 in Irbid versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Irbid vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Irbid 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
Irbid vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irbid or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Irbid, 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 Irbid and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,173 per month in Irbid and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Irbid or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Irbid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Irbid and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Irbid and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Irbid or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 28% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irbid or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Irbid, where all-in costs run around $782, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Irbid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irbid or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Irbid costs $782 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Irbid 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 Irbid or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Irbid. 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.

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