Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Buraimi and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Buraimi and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Al-Buraimi versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,298 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,586 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Al-Buraimi is roughly 17% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Buraimi 25% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.12 OMR 1.97

$1.94 ฿63.5

163.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.59 OMR 9.85

$18.64 ฿609

37.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 OMR 2.98

$7.82 ฿255

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$4.96 OMR 1.91

$1.95 ฿63.8

154.36%

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

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$0.85 ฿27.77

24.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 OMR 0.12

$0.35 ฿11.58

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.15 OMR 4.68

$2.13 ฿69.6

470.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.65 OMR 4.49

$3.73 ฿122

212.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.71 ฿56.0

16.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 OMR 0.48

$1.63 ฿53.2

-24.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$1.14 ฿37.15

52.63%

Eggs

$2.47 OMR 0.95

$1.93 ฿63.1

27.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.87 OMR 1.49

$16.21 ฿530

-76.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 OMR 1.96

$3.12 ฿102

62.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$10.90 ฿356

-19.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 OMR 1.00

$2.75 ฿90.0

-5.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 OMR 0.67

$1.21 ฿39.52

42.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 OMR 0.71

$1.62 ฿53.0

13.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 OMR 0.45

$1.59 ฿51.8

-25.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.37

$1.40 ฿45.70

-30.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 OMR 0.38

$1.17 ฿38.17

-17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.66 ฿21.60

65.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 OMR 0.21

$0.53 ฿17.22

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 OMR 2.52

$4.69 ฿153

39.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 OMR 6.07

$18.66 ฿609

-15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.32 OMR 1.66

$1.80 ฿58.8

140.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.74 OMR 2.98

$3.23 ฿106

139.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 OMR 1.00

$1.41 ฿45.91

83.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 OMR 0.21

$1.29 ฿42.12

-58.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 OMR 1.98

$7.84 ฿256

-34.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 OMR 0.25

$1.27 ฿41.58

-48.82%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,664

$21.3K ฿694.9K

5.77%

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

$21.6K OMR 8,300

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-2.95%

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

$105 OMR 40.56

$69.1 ฿2,256

52.54%

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

$41.88 OMR 16.12

$14.08 ฿460

197.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 OMR 26.80

$18.00 ฿588

286.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$10.36 OMR 3.99

$5.92 ฿193

75.00%

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

$193 OMR 74.2

$299 ฿9,766

-35.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,914 OMR 3,817

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-33.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 OMR 19.25

$54.7 ฿1,787

-8.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 OMR 15.18

$26.77 ฿874

47.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 OMR 30.42

$85.0 ฿2,776

-7.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 OMR 33.97

$70.6 ฿2,306

24.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 OMR 79.4

$237 ฿7,752

-13.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,613 OMR 1,391

$617 ฿20.2K

485.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

3.00%

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

Last update for Al-Buraimi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 485% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Al-Buraimi vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $246, with Al-Buraimi 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

Al-Buraimi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Al-Buraimi pays 485% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Al-Buraimi pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,011 per month in Al-Buraimi versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Al-Buraimi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Al-Buraimi 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.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Al-Buraimi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.