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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $947 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $158 in Al Ghubra versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $227 in Al Ghubra versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Al Ghubra costs roughly 90% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Ghubra 93% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.32 ฿10.38

-15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$2.56 OMR 0.99

$1.96 ฿64.4

30.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.27 OMR 17.04

$38.74 ฿1,274

14.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.71 OMR 13.75

$3.97 ฿130

799.50%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$6.74 ฿222

33.68%

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

$178 OMR 68.7

$778 ฿25.6K

-77.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 OMR 1,204

$602 ฿19.8K

419.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Al Ghubra: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 419% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Ghubra and Chiang Mai differ by about 950% in total monthly costs ($90.2 vs $947 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 419% higher in Al Ghubra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $178 in Al Ghubra versus $778 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $90.2 per month in Al Ghubra versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 950% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $90.2 in Al Ghubra versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Al Ghubra 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 Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 950% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.