šA single person spends $465 per month in Al-hawamidiyah vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
šA couple spends around $755 per month in Al-hawamidiyah vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
šA family of three spends $1,045 per month in Al-hawamidiyah vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
šAl-hawamidiyah is about 45% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šBoth Al-hawamidiyah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median ā Al-hawamidiyah65% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62EĀ£190
$1.95ąøæ63.2
85.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.74EĀ£828
$18.43ąøæ597
-14.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70EĀ£247
$7.50ąøæ243
-37.33%
Cappuccino
$1.48EĀ£78.1
$1.93ąøæ62.6
-23.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29EĀ£15.00
$0.78ąøæ25.22
-62.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12EĀ£6.36
$0.32ąøæ10.48
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22EĀ£64.3
$2.15ąøæ69.6
-43.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97EĀ£156
$3.71ąøæ120
-19.95%
š Groceries & Markets
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86EĀ£45.36
$1.71ąøæ55.5
-49.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73EĀ£38.17
$1.56ąøæ50.6
-53.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65EĀ£34.09
$1.18ąøæ38.27
-44.92%
Eggs
$1.45EĀ£76.4
$1.98ąøæ64.2
-26.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.95EĀ£208
$16.04ąøæ520
-75.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.46EĀ£235
$3.17ąøæ103
40.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.80EĀ£516
$10.94ąøæ355
-10.42%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43EĀ£75.3
$2.63ąøæ85.1
-45.63%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55EĀ£28.84
$1.17ąøæ37.82
-52.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.42EĀ£22.27
$1.65ąøæ53.3
-74.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37EĀ£19.31
$1.54ąøæ49.78
-75.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38EĀ£19.98
$1.38ąøæ44.59
-72.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43EĀ£22.88
$1.17ąøæ37.75
-63.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24EĀ£12.68
$0.66ąøæ21.37
-63.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22EĀ£11.33
$0.51ąøæ16.64
-56.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02EĀ£106
$4.52ąøæ146
-55.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.97EĀ£262
$18.32ąøæ594
-72.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42EĀ£74.5
$1.80ąøæ58.2
-21.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69EĀ£141
$3.18ąøæ103
-15.41%
š Getting Around
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19EĀ£10.10
$0.90ąøæ29.13
-78.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.00ąøæ616
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56EĀ£29.56
$1.41ąøæ45.76
-60.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46EĀ£24.07
$1.31ąøæ42.39
-64.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01EĀ£106
$8.09ąøæ262
-75.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.31EĀ£16.15
$1.28ąøæ41.31
-75.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KEĀ£1.8M
$21.3Kąøæ689.9K
64.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KEĀ£1.8M
$21.7Kąøæ703.2K
55.71%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.50EĀ£605
$69.2ąøæ2,242
-83.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.66EĀ£298
$13.97ąøæ453
-59.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.09EĀ£531
$17.95ąøæ582
-43.79%
š Sport & Entertainment
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.05EĀ£1,160
$42.31ąøæ1,371
-47.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66ąøæ216
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.03EĀ£160
$5.92ąøæ192
-48.82%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$88.1EĀ£4,635
$299ąøæ9,694
-70.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,870EĀ£98.4K
$14.8Kąøæ481.1K
-87.41%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.03EĀ£1,475
$56.2ąøæ1,820
-50.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.65EĀ£2,560
$26.94ąøæ873
80.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106EĀ£5,601
$84.9ąøæ2,750
25.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.0EĀ£2,685
$71.8ąøæ2,327
-28.94%
š Accommodation & Living
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$188EĀ£9,884
$435ąøæ14.1K
-56.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$100EĀ£5,278
$240ąøæ7,771
-58.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312EĀ£16.4K
$798ąøæ25.8K
-60.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176EĀ£9,264
$498ąøæ16.1K
-64.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$764EĀ£40.2K
$1,995ąøæ64.6K
-61.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$434EĀ£22.9K
$1,532ąøæ49.6K
-71.64%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Al-hawamidiyah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628ąøæ20.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
5
240.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-hawamidiyah: April 22, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $188 in Al-hawamidiyah versus $435 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Al-hawamidiyah versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $244 ā making Al-hawamidiyah 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-hawamidiyah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al-hawamidiyah or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Al-hawamidiyah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al-hawamidiyah vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $698 per month in Al-hawamidiyah and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Al-hawamidiyah or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-hawamidiyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Al-hawamidiyah vs Chiang Mai?
Are groceries more expensive in Al-hawamidiyah or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 88% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Al-hawamidiyah or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably ā all-in costs are $465 in Al-hawamidiyah and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Al-hawamidiyah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Al-hawamidiyah costs $465 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Al-hawamidiyah compared to 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 ā central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Al-hawamidiyah or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Al-hawamidiyah. 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-hawamidiyah vs other spots: cost of living compared