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 $727 per month in Irbid vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,173 per month in Irbid vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,619 per month in Irbid vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Irbid is about 15% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Irbid and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Irbid 46% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.25 JOD 3.01
$1.96 ฿63.6
116.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.67 JOD 30.25
$18.81 ฿611
126.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 JOD 4.93
$7.92 ฿258
-12.12%
Cappuccino
$1.37 JOD 0.97
$1.91 ฿62.2
-28.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 JOD 0.36
$0.84 ฿27.25
-40.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 JOD 0.26
$0.35 ฿11.44
5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 JOD 3.56
$2.21 ฿71.7
127.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88 JOD 4.88
$3.80 ฿124
81.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 JOD 0.83
$1.64 ฿53.2
-28.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 JOD 0.30
$1.62 ฿52.8
-74.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 JOD 1.14
$1.18 ฿38.40
35.59%
Eggs
$1.83 JOD 1.30
$2.01 ฿65.4
-8.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.69 JOD 4.74
$15.89 ฿517
-57.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.60 JOD 3.97
$3.01 ฿98.0
86.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.67 JOD 8.28
$10.77 ฿350
8.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 JOD 0.99
$2.61 ฿85.0
-46.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 JOD 1.11
$1.22 ฿39.65
28.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 JOD 0.74
$1.70 ฿55.4
-38.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 JOD 0.41
$1.58 ฿51.2
-63.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 JOD 0.63
$1.32 ฿42.89
-32.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 JOD 0.52
$1.17 ฿38.01
-37.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 JOD 0.46
$0.67 ฿21.85
-2.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 JOD 0.42
$0.56 ฿18.21
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51 JOD 2.49
$4.53 ฿147
-22.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.09 JOD 5.03
$18.20 ฿592
-61.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92 JOD 2.78
$1.83 ฿59.6
114.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 JOD 3.77
$3.23 ฿105
64.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 JOD 0.51
$0.89 ฿28.83
-19.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.38 ฿630
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 JOD 0.34
$1.35 ฿43.95
-64.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 JOD 0.99
$1.35 ฿43.79
2.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.90 JOD 4.90
$8.25 ฿268
-16.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 JOD 1.04
$1.27 ฿41.40
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K JOD 17.8K
$21.2K ฿687.8K
18.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K JOD 22.4K
$22.5K ฿731.0K
40.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.0 JOD 68.8
$70.2 ฿2,281
38.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.77 JOD 11.18
$13.77 ฿448
14.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.05 JOD 22.02
$17.60 ฿572
76.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.83 JOD 24.70
$41.57 ฿1,352
-16.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06 JOD 13.52
$6.60 ฿215
188.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.68 JOD 6.87
$5.78 ฿188
67.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.2 JOD 66.8
$306 ฿9,953
-69.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,043 JOD 2,866
$14.8K ฿482.0K
-72.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.04 JOD 31.94
$54.4 ฿1,768
-17.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.90 JOD 14.82
$26.14 ฿850
-20.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.0 JOD 48.19
$84.5 ฿2,748
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.1 JOD 35.51
$69.4 ฿2,257
-27.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 JOD 149
$424 ฿13.8K
-50.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$145 JOD 103
$238 ฿7,743
-38.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$363 JOD 257
$825 ฿26.8K
-56.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 JOD 199
$515 ฿16.7K
-45.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$510 JOD 361
$2,049 ฿66.6K
-75.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$492 JOD 349
$1,523 ฿49.5K
-67.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irbid
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$557 JOD 395
$635 ฿20.6K
-12.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.27
5
45.40%

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

Last update for Irbid: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $211 in Irbid versus $424 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 14% 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 $43.00 in Irbid versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Irbid vs $243 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 17% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,091 per month in Irbid and $1,278 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Irbid and $19.00 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 $800/month in Irbid or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $727 in Irbid and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irbid or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Irbid costs $727 versus $852 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 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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