🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $945 in Adam versus $950 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Adam versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,851 in Adam versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Adam costs roughly 1% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Adam31% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.14OMR 1.98
$2.10฿69.3
144.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.14OMR 12.76
$19.84฿656
67.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.72OMR 2.97
$5.79฿191
33.33%
Cappuccino
$4.96OMR 1.91
$1.83฿60.4
171.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85OMR 0.33
$0.78฿25.61
8.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$0.31฿10.37
-12.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.02OMR 5.01
$2.34฿77.2
456.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.95OMR 4.98
$3.70฿122
250.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23OMR 0.86
$2.03฿67.1
9.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23OMR 0.47
$1.60฿52.7
-23.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88OMR 0.72
$1.42฿46.75
32.39%
Eggs
$2.86OMR 1.10
$2.18฿71.9
31.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.48OMR 2.88
$15.91฿526
-52.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.84OMR 2.63
$3.07฿102
122.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51OMR 4.05
$9.87฿326
6.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40OMR 1.31
$2.63฿86.8
29.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90OMR 0.73
$1.10฿36.19
72.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34OMR 0.90
$1.63฿53.8
43.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$1.53฿50.6
-16.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19OMR 0.46
$1.24฿41.13
-4.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23OMR 0.47
$1.13฿37.37
8.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.77OMR 0.68
$0.74฿24.38
139.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66OMR 0.25
$0.50฿16.48
32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54OMR 2.52
$4.28฿141
52.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.74OMR 6.06
$17.97฿594
-12.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.53OMR 2.13
$1.70฿56.1
225.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.13OMR 3.52
$2.90฿95.7
214.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31OMR 1.27
$1.23฿40.76
169.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.57OMR 0.99
$0.53฿17.66
384.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77OMR 2.99
$2.40฿79.3
223.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$1.44฿47.55
-56.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KOMR 9,862
$21.2K฿700.2K
20.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KOMR 8,569
$27.3K฿902.1K
-18.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172OMR 66.2
$64.9฿2,145
164.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.18OMR 12.00
$13.35฿441
133.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6OMR 26.80
$20.83฿688
234.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,336
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.52OMR 4.05
$6.71฿222
56.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289OMR 111
$787฿26.0K
-63.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KOMR 3,975
$15.1K฿499.6K
-31.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9OMR 21.91
$56.2฿1,858
1.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.63OMR 16.79
$24.95฿824
74.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.9OMR 34.99
$92.7฿3,063
-1.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5OMR 36.39
$75.1฿2,482
25.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$264OMR 102
$910฿30.1K
-70.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,640OMR 1,016
$605฿20.0K
336.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
5.57
-5.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adam: September 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Adam pays 336% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Adam vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $242 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.
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
Adam vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Adam?
Adam is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Adam or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 336% higher in Adam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $289 in Adam versus $787 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Adam or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Adam – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Adam or in Chiang Mai?
At $945 in Adam versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adam but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Adam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Adam or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Adam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Adam or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Adam and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Adam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.