Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Qazvin and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Qazvin: $644 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Qazvin, Iran
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Qazvin
🇮🇷 Iran
$644
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $644 per month in Qazvin vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Qazvin $644
  • Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $923 per month in Qazvin vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Qazvin $923
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $1,202 per month in Qazvin vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Qazvin $1,202
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Qazvin is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Qazvin and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Qazvin 53% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 $3.43
$2.24 ฿75.5
53.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.98 $15.98
$19.00 ฿640
-15.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.41 $3.41
$5.55 ฿187
-38.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.67 $0.67
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.27 $1.27
$1.67 ฿56.4
-23.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 $0.41
$0.64 ฿21.51
-35.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$0.31 ฿10.29
454.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.36 ฿79.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ฿123
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.95 ฿65.7
-75.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.31 $0.31
$1.44 ฿48.41
-78.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.33 ฿44.97
104.51%
Eggs
$0.91 $0.91
$2.28 ฿77.0
-60.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$16.45 ฿554
-73.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.78 ฿93.8
-25.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.57 $7.57
$9.31 ฿314
-18.69%
Apples (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$2.35 ฿79.3
-79.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.97 ฿32.75
5.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.71 $0.71
$1.60 ฿53.8
-55.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.50 ฿50.6
-66.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.28 ฿43.06
-60.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.10 ฿37.14
-56.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 $0.49
$0.71 ฿23.79
-30.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 $0.29
$0.49 ฿16.34
-40.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.81 $0.81
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 $0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.14 ฿140
-38.41%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.52 ฿590
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.61 ฿54.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 ฿93.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 $0.13
$0.87 ฿29.27
-85.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 $9.65
$54.1 ฿1,823
-82.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.18 $0.18
$1.16 ฿39.00
-84.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.53 ฿17.78
-41.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.42 ฿81.6
-18.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.08 $0.08
$1.45 ฿48.82
-94.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.6K $42.6K
$21.1K ฿709.7K
102.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K $45.3K
$26.9K ฿907.9K
68.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$12.88 $12.88
$62.2 ฿2,095
-79.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.61 $1.61
$12.17 ฿410
-86.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.99 $3.99
$20.12 ฿678
-80.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.38 $12.38
$37.31 ฿1,257
-66.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.95 $9.95
$3.77 ฿127
163.93%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02 $1.02
$6.49 ฿219
-84.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$30.07 $30.07
$736 ฿24.8K
-95.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$761 $761
$14.8K ฿497.6K
-94.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.54 $26.54
$53.4 ฿1,799
-50.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.51 $27.51
$24.64 ฿830
11.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 $98.4
$91.5 ฿3,083
7.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.6 $50.6
$71.9 ฿2,424
-29.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 $509
$482 ฿16.3K
5.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 $356
$309 ฿10.4K
15.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$698 $698
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-30.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 $497
$633 ฿21.3K
-21.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,145 $1,145
$2,363 ฿79.6K
-51.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$527 $527
$1,589 ฿53.6K
-66.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qazvin
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$311 $311
$590 ฿19.9K
-47.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18
5.57
223.16%

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

Last update for Qazvin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Qazvin
$356
Chiang Mai
$309 13.1% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Qazvin
$91
Chiang Mai
$109 18.9% $17
Groceries & Markets
Qazvin
$90
Chiang Mai
$234 159% $144
Eating Out
Qazvin
$61
Chiang Mai
$78 26.3% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qazvin
$18
Chiang Mai
$94 411% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Qazvin
$14
Chiang Mai
$50 249% $36
Getting Around
Qazvin
$12
Chiang Mai
$61 414% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Qazvin versus $482 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 90% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Qazvin versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $90 vs $234 – making Qazvin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Qazvin
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
07:33 7:33 AM
11:03 11:03 AM
3 h 30 min ahead of Qazvin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
402,748
127,240
💱 Currency
USD USD
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Qazvin Chiang Mai 5,140 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Qazvin
  • 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
Qazvin vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Qazvin or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Qazvin, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Qazvin and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $965 per month in Qazvin and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Qazvin compared to Chiang Mai?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $509 in Qazvin and $482 in Chiang Mai. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Qazvin and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $30 per month in Qazvin and $736 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Qazvin or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 159% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Qazvin or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $644 in Qazvin and $936 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Qazvin or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $644 in Qazvin to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Qazvin compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Qazvin or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Qazvin. If higher salaries 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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