Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ain and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Ain and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Al Ain is 54.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 84.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Al Ain is 29.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 79.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72 AED 24.65
$2.03 ฿64.8
231.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9 AED 246
$18.59 ฿594
259.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.21 AED 30.14
$7.48 ฿239
9.76%
Cappuccino
$4.82 AED 17.67
$2.00 ฿63.8
141.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 AED 2.77
$0.85 ฿27.08
-10.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 AED 1.37
$0.35 ฿11.24
5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.26 AED 30.33
$2.21 ฿70.7
273.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.97 AED 40.28
$3.76 ฿120
191.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 AED 6.62
$1.72 ฿54.9
4.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 AED 5.62
$1.63 ฿52.2
-6.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 AED 8.93
$1.16 ฿37.04
109.48%
Eggs
$3.19 AED 11.71
$1.98 ฿63.3
61.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.65 AED 9.72
$15.93 ฿509
-83.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 AED 31.49
$3.17 ฿101
170.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.75 AED 24.79
$10.90 ฿349
-38.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 AED 8.72
$2.65 ฿84.6
-10.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 AED 5.90
$1.22 ฿39.09
31.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 AED 4.87
$1.70 ฿54.3
-21.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 AED 2.96
$1.59 ฿50.8
-49.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 AED 2.60
$1.32 ฿42.33
-46.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 AED 1.46
$1.17 ฿37.36
-65.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 AED 6.07
$0.68 ฿21.67
142.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 AED 2.16
$0.56 ฿17.81
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29 AED 23.09
$4.51 ฿144
39.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.43 AED 49.29
$19.07 ฿610
-29.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 AED 4.88
$1.77 ฿56.6
-24.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 AED 8.22
$3.18 ฿102
-29.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 AED 4.10
$0.96 ฿30.78
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.45 AED 89.8
$18.90 ฿604
29.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 AED 10.19
$1.36 ฿43.41
104.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 AED 1.90
$1.35 ฿43.23
-61.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.30 AED 30.47
$8.03 ฿257
3.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 AED 2.70
$1.24 ฿39.74
-40.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.2K AED 165.9K
$21.2K ฿676.6K
113.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K AED 83.1K
$21.8K ฿695.5K
4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 AED 332
$71.2 ฿2,277
27.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.1 AED 184
$14.09 ฿450
255.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.5 AED 358
$17.47 ฿559
457.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 AED 200
$42.07 ฿1,345
29.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.62 AED 153
$6.88 ฿220
504.94%
Cinema Ticket
$11.37 AED 41.74
$5.94 ฿190
91.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$626 AED 2,299
$307 ฿9,827
103.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,873 AED 14.2K
$14.8K ฿473.0K
-73.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.65 AED 79.4
$55.7 ฿1,780
-61.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 AED 205
$26.79 ฿856
108.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 AED 286
$83.2 ฿2,661
-6.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.9 AED 198
$70.1 ฿2,241
-23.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$681 AED 2,501
$427 ฿13.7K
59.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 AED 2,718
$237 ฿7,580
212.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,946 AED 18.2K
$802 ฿25.6K
517.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 AED 4,581
$503 ฿16.1K
147.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,405 AED 8,827
$2,061 ฿65.9K
16.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,206 AED 4,425
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-21.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Ain
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,578 AED 13.1K
$654 ฿20.9K
447.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.19
5
3.80%

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

Last update for Al Ain: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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