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

🙂 Solo nomad: Karbala is 17.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Karbala is 22.5% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 27.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 IQD 6,556
$2.02 ฿65.3
148.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
$18.78 ฿608
-16.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 IQD 6,988
$7.67 ฿248
-30.38%
Cappuccino
$1.58 IQD 2,071
$1.98 ฿64.2
-20.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 476
$0.82 ฿26.64
-56.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 IQD 395
$0.33 ฿10.58
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 IQD 2,521
$2.12 ฿68.6
-8.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 IQD 3,706
$3.73 ฿121
-24.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 IQD 1,562
$1.64 ฿53.2
-27.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.7 IQD 914
$1.57 ฿50.9
-55.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 IQD 1,867
$1.19 ฿38.62
20.17%
Eggs
$1.75 IQD 2,290
$1.98 ฿64.1
-11.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.2 IQD 6,811
$15.99 ฿517
-67.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 IQD 6,348
$3.12 ฿101
55.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
$11.16 ฿361
-13.08%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 IQD 1,265
$2.76 ฿89.2
-64.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 IQD 1,346
$1.22 ฿39.5
-15.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 IQD 1,187
$1.71 ฿55.4
-46.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 IQD 863
$1.55 ฿50.2
-57.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 IQD 821
$1.34 ฿43.21
-52.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 IQD 712
$1.21 ฿39.23
-55.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.6 IQD 792
$0.72 ฿23.2
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 IQD 783
$0.53 ฿17.05
13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 IQD 2,537
$4.72 ฿153
-58.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
$18.39 ฿595
-28.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 IQD 1,334
$1.79 ฿57.9
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 IQD 2,869
$3.21 ฿104
-31.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 IQD 482
$0.94 ฿30.44
-60.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
$18.9 ฿612
63.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.27 IQD 2,966
$1.42 ฿46.08
59.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.5 IQD 1,958
$1.35 ฿43.53
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.68 IQD 10K
$7.85 ฿254
-2.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 IQD 634
$1.25 ฿40.4
-61.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-46.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.5K IQD 19M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-33.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 IQD 92K
$70.6 ฿2,285
-0.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
$13.72 ฿444
80.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
$17.56 ฿568
175.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-45.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
$6.9 ฿223
145.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
$5.8 ฿188
53.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 IQD 165.2K
$308 ฿9,963
-59.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$785 IQD 1M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-94.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
$55.4 ฿1,793
-68.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
$26.4 ฿854
-46.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
$85.1 ฿2,755
-64.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.09 IQD 42K
$71.8 ฿2,323
-55.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 IQD 332K
$434 ฿14K
-41.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 IQD 193.2K
$235 ฿7,610
-37.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 IQD 452.1K
$821 ฿26.6K
-57.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 IQD 317.3K
$498 ฿16.1K
-51.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-47.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$339 IQD 443.7K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-78.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karbala
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$504 IQD 659.7K
$703 ฿22.8K
-28.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.67
5
13.40%

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

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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