🙂A single person spends $814 per month in Al-hamra' vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,620 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Al-hamra' is about 6% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Al-hamra' and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Al-hamra'39% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.23OMR 2.01
$1.94฿63.5
169.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.79OMR 9.93
$18.64฿609
38.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86OMR 3.02
$7.82฿255
0.51%
Cappuccino
$4.96OMR 1.91
$1.95฿63.8
154.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01OMR 0.39
$0.85฿27.77
18.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34OMR 0.13
$0.35฿11.58
-2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.33OMR 4.75
$2.13฿69.6
478.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.64OMR 4.48
$3.73฿122
212.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94OMR 0.75
$1.71฿56.0
13.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22OMR 0.47
$1.63฿53.2
-25.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72OMR 0.66
$1.14฿37.15
50.88%
Eggs
$2.36OMR 0.91
$1.93฿63.1
22.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.82OMR 1.47
$16.21฿530
-76.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.08OMR 1.96
$3.12฿102
62.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52OMR 3.28
$10.90฿356
-21.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62OMR 1.01
$2.75฿90.0
-4.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67OMR 0.64
$1.21฿39.52
38.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86OMR 0.72
$1.62฿53.0
14.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17OMR 0.45
$1.59฿51.8
-26.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97OMR 0.37
$1.40฿45.70
-30.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03OMR 0.40
$1.17฿38.17
-11.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08OMR 0.42
$0.66฿21.60
63.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56OMR 0.21
$0.53฿17.22
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29OMR 2.42
$4.69฿153
34.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.43OMR 5.94
$18.66฿609
-17.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.35OMR 1.67
$1.80฿58.8
141.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.99OMR 3.08
$3.23฿106
147.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09OMR 1.19
$1.41฿45.91
119.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81OMR 0.31
$1.29฿42.12
-37.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.22OMR 3.94
$7.84฿256
30.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$1.27฿41.58
-50.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KOMR 8,750
$21.3K฿694.9K
6.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KOMR 8,488
$22.2K฿725.4K
-0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107OMR 41.26
$69.1฿2,256
55.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.81OMR 15.71
$14.08฿460
189.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0OMR 26.56
$18.00฿588
283.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,341
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.45OMR 4.02
$5.92฿193
76.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195OMR 75.0
$299฿9,766
-34.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,715OMR 3,740
$15.0K฿488.3K
-35.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.86OMR 19.20
$54.7฿1,787
-8.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.04OMR 15.03
$26.77฿874
45.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5OMR 30.59
$85.0฿2,776
-6.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8OMR 34.56
$70.6฿2,306
27.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,752
-
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,358OMR 1,678
$617฿20.2K
605.85%
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 Al-hamra': June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 606% higher in Al-hamra', which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Al-hamra' versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Al-hamra' vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Al-hamra' wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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-hamra' vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Al-hamra'?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,222 per month in Al-hamra' and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-hamra' vs Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $814 in Al-hamra' and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $195 per month in Al-hamra' and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Al-hamra' or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $814 in Al-hamra' and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Al-hamra' or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al-hamra' or Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-hamra'. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Al-hamra' vs other spots: cost of living compared