Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

For one person, living is cheaper in Isfahan: $470 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

23

Cost of Living Index in Isfahan
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Isfahan Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Isfahan

🇮🇷 Iran

$470

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Isfahan 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 Isfahan and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $470 per month in Isfahan vs $938 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Isfahan $470
Chiang Mai $938

A couple spends around $802 per month in Isfahan vs $1,426 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Isfahan $802
Chiang Mai $1,426

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Isfahan vs $1,914 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Isfahan $1,134
Chiang Mai $1,914

Isfahan is about 50% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Isfahan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Isfahan 65% lower, Chiang Mai 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 $3.07

$2.26 ฿75.4

35.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.72 $12.72

$19.18 ฿641

-33.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.01 $3.01

$5.59 ฿187

-46.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 $0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

Cappuccino

$1.01 $1.01

$1.72 ฿57.6

-41.28%

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

$0.49 $0.49

$0.64 ฿21.54

-23.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.33 ฿11.18

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

Milk (1 liter)

$0.48 $0.48

$2.05 ฿68.6

-76.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 $0.46

$1.40 ฿46.70

-67.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.28 ฿42.89

53.91%

Eggs

$1.51 $1.51

$2.25 ฿75.3

-32.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$16.94 ฿566

-83.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.74 ฿91.6

-11.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.57 $10.57

$9.36 ฿313

12.93%

Apples (1kg)

$0.76 $0.76

$2.40 ฿80.3

-68.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.01 ฿33.92

26.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.61 ฿53.9

-34.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 $0.61

$1.52 ฿50.7

-59.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 $0.61

$1.28 ฿42.90

-52.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$1.11 ฿37.22

-55.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.72 ฿24.09

-18.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 $0.21

$0.52 ฿17.54

-59.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 $0.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.07 $2.07

$4.33 ฿145

-52.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.85 ฿28.31

-65.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.52 $12.52

$53.9 ฿1,801

-76.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.17 ฿39.18

-56.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.57 ฿19.00

-45.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.37 ฿79.2

-13.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.45 ฿48.32

-36.55%

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

$67.9K $67.9K

$20.5K ฿684.3K

231.41%

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

$58.5K $58.5K

$26.5K ฿886.1K

120.65%

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

$10.26 $10.26

$62.3 ฿2,083

-83.54%

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

$1.99 $1.99

$12.27 ฿410

-83.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.48 $7.48

$19.97 ฿668

-62.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.64 $13.64

$37.91 ฿1,267

-64.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.19 $13.19

$3.76 ฿126

250.80%

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 $1.02

$6.71 ฿224

-84.80%

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

$72.2 $72.2

$797 ฿26.6K

-90.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$533 $533

$14.8K ฿495.7K

-96.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.62 $18.62

$53.3 ฿1,780

-65.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.77 $23.77

$25.05 ฿837

-5.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$91.6 ฿3,062

-5.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.85 $37.85

$73.5 ฿2,455

-48.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 $289

$464 ฿15.5K

-37.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 $192

$305 ฿10.2K

-36.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 $1,311

$915 ฿30.6K

43.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 $454

$552 ฿18.5K

-17.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 $1,176

$1,912 ฿63.9K

-38.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$736 $736

$1,438 ฿48.1K

-48.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$203 $203

$595 ฿19.9K

-65.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

26.8

5.57

381.15%

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

Last update for Isfahan: October 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Isfahan

$192 41%

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5% 58.3% $112

Groceries & Markets

Isfahan

$102 21.7%

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4% 134% $136

Clothing & Footwear

Isfahan

$75 15.9%

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7% 46.3% $35

Eating Out

Isfahan

$50 10.6%

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4% 59.5% $29

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Isfahan

$20 4.2%

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1% 379% $75

Getting Around

Isfahan

$16 3.4%

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5% 289% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Isfahan

$16 3.3%

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5% 227% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Isfahan versus $464 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 193% 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 $13.00 in Isfahan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $238 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇮🇷 Isfahan

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

09:12 9:12 AM

12:42 12:42 PM

3 h 30 min ahead of Isfahan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,961,260

127,240

💱 Currency

USD USD

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Isfahan Chiang Mai 4,940 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Isfahan
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Chiang Mai costs about 100% more than Isfahan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $705 per month in Isfahan and $1,408 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $72.2 per month in Isfahan and $797 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 134% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $470, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $470 versus $938 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 Isfahan. 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.