😐A single person spends $954 per month in Al-hamra' vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Al-hamra' vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Al-hamra' costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Al-hamra' and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Al-hamra'31% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15OMR 1.98
$2.08฿68.6
147.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.48OMR 13.27
$19.64฿646
75.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.66OMR 2.95
$5.65฿186
35.58%
Cappuccino
$4.85OMR 1.87
$1.81฿59.4
167.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84OMR 0.32
$0.71฿23.45
18.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$0.32฿10.38
-15.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.09OMR 5.04
$2.24฿73.6
484.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.87OMR 4.95
$3.63฿119
254.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32OMR 0.89
$1.96฿64.4
18.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29OMR 0.50
$1.50฿49.39
-14.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89OMR 0.73
$1.34฿43.93
41.04%
Eggs
$2.99OMR 1.15
$2.26฿74.5
32.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53OMR 2.90
$16.26฿535
-53.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.60OMR 2.54
$2.95฿97.1
123.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.71OMR 4.12
$9.94฿327
7.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45OMR 1.33
$2.57฿84.6
34.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98OMR 0.76
$1.06฿34.73
86.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39OMR 0.92
$1.61฿53.0
48.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26OMR 0.48
$1.52฿49.97
-17.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20OMR 0.46
$1.27฿41.77
-5.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22OMR 0.47
$1.07฿35.06
14.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.85OMR 0.71
$0.72฿23.68
156.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61OMR 0.24
$0.51฿16.72
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.57OMR 2.53
$4.19฿138
56.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.69OMR 6.04
$17.87฿587
-12.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.44OMR 2.09
$1.69฿55.7
221.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99OMR 3.46
$2.84฿93.3
216.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.93฿30.43
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,771
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22OMR 1.24
$1.23฿40.59
161.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67OMR 1.03
$0.58฿18.96
360.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.67OMR 2.95
$2.42฿79.7
216.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$1.41฿46.43
-57.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KOMR 9,632
$21.4K฿705.1K
16.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KOMR 8,842
$27.3K฿898.7K
-15.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$175OMR 67.5
$63.7฿2,093
175.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.71OMR 11.82
$12.85฿423
138.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3OMR 27.06
$20.22฿665
247.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.74฿1,274
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.20OMR 3.93
$6.74฿222
51.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288OMR 111
$778฿25.6K
-63.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KOMR 4,036
$14.6K฿480.4K
-28.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8OMR 21.86
$54.3฿1,785
4.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.75OMR 16.84
$25.45฿837
71.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.3OMR 34.39
$94.3฿3,102
-5.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.4OMR 36.73
$73.4฿2,415
29.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-hamra'
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,302OMR 1,656
$602฿19.8K
614.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
5.57
-5.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-hamra': August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 615% higher in Al-hamra', which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Al-hamra' versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $240 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 – Al-hamra' is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,431 per month in Al-hamra' and $1,421 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' and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $954 in Al-hamra' and $947 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 $288 per month in Al-hamra' and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Al-hamra' or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Al-hamra' at $954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-hamra' it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al-hamra' or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al-hamra' makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Al-hamra' vs other spots: cost of living compared