Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in AL Kharj vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,496 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,050 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

AL Kharj costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both AL Kharj and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – AL Kharj 29% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.31

$1.96 ฿65.9

230.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 SAR 100

$18.35 ฿617

45.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 SAR 30.13

$7.48 ฿252

7.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

Cappuccino

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$2.02 ฿67.8

21.29%

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

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$0.85 ฿28.52

-8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.47

$0.36 ฿11.97

-63.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$1.57 ฿52.7

-83.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 SAR 9.00

$1.19 ฿40.05

101.68%

Eggs

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.94 ฿65.1

0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 SAR 31.90

$16.19 ฿545

-47.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 SAR 19.24

$2.99 ฿101

71.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 SAR 50.8

$10.94 ฿368

23.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 SAR 7.55

$2.71 ฿91.2

-25.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$1.17 ฿39.27

5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.69 ฿56.8

-43.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$1.60 ฿54.0

-18.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 SAR 3.40

$1.38 ฿46.56

-34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$1.20 ฿40.47

-19.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$0.67 ฿22.51

16.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.56 ฿18.74

-8.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 SAR 24.72

$4.64 ฿156

41.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.95

$0.88 ฿29.70

19.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.90 SAR 150

$19.34 ฿651

106.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 SAR 10.25

$1.36 ฿45.92

100.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$1.34 ฿45.00

-58.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$8.21 ฿276

65.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$1.22 ฿41.20

-47.54%

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

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

$21.4K ฿718.5K

61.89%

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

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

$22.5K ฿758.1K

1.67%

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

$105 SAR 393

$70.7 ฿2,378

48.20%

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

$27.04 SAR 102

$14.04 ฿472

92.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.84 SAR 187

$17.49 ฿589

184.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 SAR 253

$42.15 ฿1,418

60.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.77 SAR 153

$6.88 ฿231

492.59%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 SAR 61.2

$5.92 ฿199

175.17%

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

$179 SAR 671

$309 ฿10.4K

-42.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-74.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$55.8 ฿1,876

6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 SAR 204

$26.11 ฿879

107.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 SAR 201

$83.0 ฿2,793

-35.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 SAR 305

$70.5 ฿2,371

15.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 SAR 2,454

$432 ฿14.5K

51.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 SAR 875

$239 ฿8,040

-2.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SAR 1,819

$822 ฿27.7K

-41.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 SAR 1,847

$512 ฿17.2K

-3.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

$579 ฿19.5K

388.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

6.20%

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

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in AL Kharj versus $432 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.

Salaries run about 389% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $27.00 in AL Kharj versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in AL Kharj vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so AL Kharj 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 Kharj vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $943 in AL Kharj, $861 in Chiang Mai – roughly 9% apart. AL Kharj costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in AL Kharj and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $179 per month in AL Kharj and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 43% cheaper in AL Kharj – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in AL Kharj at $943. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in AL Kharj it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $861 in Chiang Mai to $943 in AL Kharj. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, AL Kharj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.