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 $631 per month in Mosul vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,000 per month in Mosul vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,368 per month in Mosul vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mosul is about 26% 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 IQD 4,423

$1.96 ฿64.0

72.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.24 IQD 25.2K

$18.81 ฿615

2.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 IQD 7,963

$7.92 ฿259

-23.23%

Cappuccino

$1.62 IQD 2,128

$1.91 ฿62.6

-15.18%

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

$0.41 IQD 533

$0.84 ฿27.41

-51.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.35 ฿11.51

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 IQD 1,965

$2.21 ฿72.1

-32.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 IQD 2,033

$3.80 ฿124

-59.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,238

$1.64 ฿53.5

-42.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,080

$1.62 ฿53.1

-49.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 IQD 1,690

$1.18 ฿38.62

9.32%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,972

$2.01 ฿65.8

-24.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.38 IQD 4,423

$15.89 ฿520

-78.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 IQD 5,102

$3.01 ฿98.5

29.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 IQD 15.0K

$10.77 ฿352

6.04%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 951

$2.61 ฿85.5

-72.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,409

$1.22 ฿39.88

-11.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 883

$1.70 ฿55.7

-60.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 IQD 612

$1.58 ฿51.5

-70.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 IQD 631

$1.32 ฿43.14

-63.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 709

$1.17 ฿38.23

-53.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 IQD 583

$0.67 ฿21.98

-32.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 739

$0.56 ฿18.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,437

$4.53 ฿148

-58.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.58 IQD 9,932

$18.20 ฿595

-58.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 IQD 1,871

$1.83 ฿60.0

-21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,454

$3.23 ฿106

-42.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 478

$0.89 ฿29.00

-59.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

$19.38 ฿634

296.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 IQD 1,963

$1.35 ฿44.20

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,950

$1.35 ฿44.05

10.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 IQD 5,856

$8.25 ฿270

-45.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 693

$1.27 ฿41.64

-58.27%

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

$17.3K IQD 22.6M

$21.2K ฿691.8K

-18.31%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

$22.5K ฿735.3K

-11.24%

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

$99.1 IQD 129.8K

$70.2 ฿2,294

41.23%

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

$15.15 IQD 19.8K

$13.77 ฿450

10.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.53 IQD 38.7K

$17.60 ฿575

67.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.55 IQD 29.5K

$41.57 ฿1,360

-45.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 IQD 28.2K

$6.60 ฿216

226.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.77 IQD 12.8K

$5.78 ฿189

69.03%

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

$180 IQD 235.5K

$306 ฿10.0K

-41.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,263 IQD 4.3M

$14.8K ฿484.8K

-77.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.47 IQD 20.3K

$54.4 ฿1,778

-71.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.84 IQD 24.7K

$26.14 ฿855

-27.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.14 IQD 35.6K

$84.5 ฿2,764

-67.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.47 IQD 33.4K

$69.4 ฿2,270

-63.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 IQD 201.0K

$424 ฿13.9K

-63.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.3 IQD 114.3K

$238 ฿7,788

-63.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 IQD 343.6K

$825 ฿27.0K

-68.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 IQD 365.0K

$515 ฿16.8K

-45.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$795 IQD 1.0M

$2,049 ฿67.0K

-61.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 IQD 1.2M

$1,523 ฿49.8K

-39.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$484 IQD 633.7K

$635 ฿20.8K

-23.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

186.60%

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

Last update for Mosul: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Mosul 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 31% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $243 – 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 35% 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 $947 per month in Mosul and $1,278 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 $180 per month in Mosul and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $631 in Mosul and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mosul costs $631 versus $852 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.