🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $819 in Adam versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,212 in Adam versus $1,354 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,605 in Adam versus $1,857 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Adam costs roughly 4% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Adam39% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.07OMR 1.95
$1.96฿63.6
158.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.41OMR 10.14
$18.81฿611
40.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.89OMR 3.03
$7.92฿258
-0.38%
Cappuccino
$4.94OMR 1.90
$1.91฿62.2
158.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01OMR 0.39
$0.84฿27.25
20.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31OMR 0.12
$0.35฿11.44
-11.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.39OMR 4.76
$2.21฿71.7
460.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.77OMR 4.52
$3.80฿124
209.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92OMR 0.74
$1.64฿53.2
17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17OMR 0.45
$1.62฿52.8
-27.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73OMR 0.66
$1.18฿38.40
46.61%
Eggs
$2.35OMR 0.90
$2.01฿65.4
16.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.72OMR 1.43
$15.89฿517
-76.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.86OMR 1.87
$3.01฿98.0
61.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.77OMR 3.37
$10.77฿350
-18.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57OMR 0.99
$2.61฿85.0
-1.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66OMR 0.64
$1.22฿39.65
36.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83OMR 0.70
$1.70฿55.4
7.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18OMR 0.45
$1.58฿51.2
-25.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93OMR 0.36
$1.32฿42.89
-29.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01OMR 0.39
$1.17฿38.01
-13.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04OMR 0.40
$0.67฿21.85
55.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56OMR 0.21
$0.56฿18.21
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44OMR 2.47
$4.53฿147
42.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56OMR 5.97
$18.20฿592
-14.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.38OMR 1.68
$1.83฿59.6
139.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03OMR 3.08
$3.23฿105
148.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿28.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14OMR 1.21
$1.35฿43.95
132.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$1.35฿43.79
-40.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.43OMR 4.00
$8.25฿268
26.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64OMR 0.24
$1.27฿41.40
-49.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KOMR 8,730
$21.2K฿687.8K
7.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KOMR 8,401
$22.5K฿731.0K
-2.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107OMR 41.04
$70.2฿2,281
52.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.67OMR 15.62
$13.77฿448
195.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9OMR 26.84
$17.60฿572
297.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.57฿1,352
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.36OMR 3.98
$5.78฿188
79.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$193OMR 74.0
$306฿9,953
-37.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KOMR 3,842
$14.8K฿482.0K
-32.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.69OMR 19.08
$54.4฿1,768
-8.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32OMR 15.10
$26.14฿850
50.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.3OMR 30.05
$84.5฿2,748
-7.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3OMR 33.53
$69.4฿2,257
25.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,743
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿26.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adam
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,591OMR 995
$635฿20.6K
307.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
5
3.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adam: April 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Adam pays 308% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Adam vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $243, with Adam cheaper for home cooking.
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 Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Adam or Chiang Mai?
Adam pays 308% more on average, 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 $193 in Adam versus $306 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 Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Adam – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Adam or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Adam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 4% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.