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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $642 per month in Mosul vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,004 per month in Mosul vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,366 per month in Mosul vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mosul is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mosul and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mosul 53% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 IQD 4,569

$2.08 ฿69.5

67.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.06 IQD 25.0K

$19.61 ฿655

-2.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 IQD 8,131

$5.67 ฿189

9.52%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,125

$1.81 ฿60.3

-10.50%

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

$0.40 IQD 530

$0.77 ฿25.65

-48.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 IQD 214

$0.35 ฿11.53

-54.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$2.21 ฿73.9

-32.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 IQD 2,057

$3.79 ฿127

-58.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 IQD 1,023

$2.05 ฿68.4

-61.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 964

$1.51 ฿50.6

-50.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 IQD 1,706

$1.40 ฿46.69

-7.14%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,952

$2.26 ฿75.4

-34.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 IQD 4,829

$16.19 ฿540

-77.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 IQD 5,645

$2.90 ฿96.7

48.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.00 IQD 15.7K

$9.42 ฿314

27.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 892

$2.68 ฿89.4

-74.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,388

$1.09 ฿36.37

-2.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 963

$1.62 ฿54.0

-54.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 IQD 653

$1.46 ฿48.74

-65.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 IQD 604

$1.28 ฿42.65

-64.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 624

$1.06 ฿35.31

-54.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 IQD 551

$0.72 ฿23.94

-41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 IQD 849

$0.53 ฿17.56

22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,484

$4.23 ฿141

-55.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 IQD 9,714

$18.29 ฿611

-59.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,522

$1.63 ฿54.4

18.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 IQD 2,564

$2.90 ฿96.8

-32.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 483

$0.88 ฿29.32

-57.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.6 IQD 100.3K

$53.8 ฿1,795

42.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$1.17 ฿39.14

29.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 IQD 2,059

$0.58 ฿19.30

170.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 IQD 6,070

$2.39 ฿79.6

94.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 IQD 652

$1.45 ฿48.41

-65.52%

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

$17.5K IQD 22.9M

$21.0K ฿701.4K

-16.85%

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

$20.4K IQD 26.7M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

-22.87%

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

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$63.7 ฿2,125

37.09%

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

$15.21 IQD 19.9K

$12.89 ฿430

18.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.88 IQD 43.1K

$20.52 ฿685

60.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$39.02 ฿1,302

-40.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$3.92 ฿131

548.72%

Cinema Ticket

$9.62 IQD 12.6K

$6.58 ฿220

46.20%

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

$196 IQD 256.5K

$784 ฿26.2K

-75.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,583 IQD 4.7M

$14.7K ฿489.8K

-75.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.36 IQD 16.2K

$55.1 ฿1,840

-77.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.83 IQD 24.7K

$24.74 ฿826

-23.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.21 IQD 35.6K

$94.1 ฿3,142

-71.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.46 IQD 33.3K

$74.0 ฿2,469

-65.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$161 IQD 211.4K

$490 ฿16.4K

-67.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 IQD 152.1K

$288 ฿9,620

-59.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 IQD 363.2K

$891 ฿29.8K

-68.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 IQD 377.8K

$521 ฿17.4K

-44.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$811 IQD 1.1M

$1,974 ฿65.9K

-58.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$925 IQD 1.2M

$1,444 ฿48.2K

-35.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$487 IQD 637.1K

$602 ฿20.1K

-19.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Mosul: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Mosul 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 24% 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 $19.00 in Mosul versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $241 – making Mosul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Mosul, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $963 per month in Mosul and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $196 per month in Mosul and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 60% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mosul, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Mosul 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. Mosul costs $642 versus $932 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 Mosul. 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.