Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-masna'ah and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Al-masna'ah vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Al-masna'ah is about 2% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-masna'ah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Al-masna'ah 33% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.31 OMR 2.04

$2.10 ฿69.3

152.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.62 OMR 12.94

$19.84 ฿656

69.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 OMR 2.94

$5.79 ฿191

31.78%

Cappuccino

$4.94 OMR 1.90

$1.83 ฿60.4

169.95%

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

$0.90 OMR 0.35

$0.78 ฿25.61

15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$0.31 ฿10.37

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.78 OMR 4.92

$2.34 ฿77.2

446.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.87 OMR 4.95

$3.70 ฿122

247.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 OMR 0.88

$2.03 ฿67.1

12.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 OMR 0.50

$1.60 ฿52.7

-19.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 OMR 0.72

$1.42 ฿46.75

31.69%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

$2.18 ฿71.9

31.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 OMR 2.91

$15.91 ฿526

-52.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 OMR 2.66

$3.07 ฿102

125.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 OMR 4.04

$9.87 ฿326

6.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 OMR 1.36

$2.63 ฿86.8

34.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 OMR 0.77

$1.10 ฿36.19

80.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 OMR 0.90

$1.63 ฿53.8

43.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.53 ฿50.6

-18.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$1.24 ฿41.13

-2.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 OMR 0.49

$1.13 ฿37.37

12.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 OMR 0.69

$0.74 ฿24.38

141.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 OMR 0.24

$0.50 ฿16.48

26.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.52 OMR 2.51

$4.28 ฿141

52.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.33 OMR 5.90

$17.97 ฿594

-14.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$1.70 ฿56.1

219.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 OMR 3.39

$2.90 ฿95.7

204.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 OMR 1.28

$1.23 ฿40.76

171.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

$0.53 ฿17.66

405.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

$2.40 ฿79.3

221.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$1.44 ฿47.55

-57.64%

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

$25.7K OMR 9,908

$21.2K ฿700.2K

21.46%

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

$22.9K OMR 8,801

$27.3K ฿902.1K

-16.26%

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

$174 OMR 66.8

$64.9 ฿2,145

167.29%

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

$30.57 OMR 11.77

$13.35 ฿441

128.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 OMR 27.32

$20.83 ฿688

240.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$10.41 OMR 4.01

$6.71 ฿222

55.14%

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

$282 OMR 108

$787 ฿26.0K

-64.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,089

$15.1K ฿499.6K

-29.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 OMR 21.87

$56.2 ฿1,858

1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 OMR 16.93

$24.95 ฿824

76.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 OMR 35.26

$92.7 ฿3,063

-1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 OMR 37.02

$75.1 ฿2,482

28.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,968 OMR 1,527

$605 ฿20.0K

555.50%

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-masna'ah: September 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 556% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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 $34.00 in Al-masna'ah versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $242 – 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-masna'ah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $931 in Al-masna'ah, $950 in Chiang Mai – roughly 2% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Al-masna'ah and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $931 in Al-masna'ah and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $282 per month in Al-masna'ah and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-masna'ah, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Al-masna'ah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai 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 $931 in Al-masna'ah to $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Al-masna'ah. 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.