Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mubarraz and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mubarraz and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,301 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,968 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,635 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Al Mubarraz costs about 50% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Al Mubarraz and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Al Mubarraz 3% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.48 SAR 28.08

$1.94 ฿63.5

285.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.01 SAR 146

$18.64 ฿609

109.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 SAR 26.64

$7.82 ฿255

-9.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cappuccino

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$1.95 ฿63.8

111.28%

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

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$0.85 ฿27.77

-24.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.65

$0.35 ฿11.58

-51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.71 ฿56.0

-1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 4.97

$1.63 ฿53.2

-18.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$1.14 ฿37.15

109.65%

Eggs

$2.61 SAR 9.81

$1.93 ฿63.1

35.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.63 SAR 32.40

$16.21 ฿530

-46.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.14 SAR 38.05

$3.12 ฿102

225.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.87 SAR 55.8

$10.90 ฿356

36.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.43

$2.75 ฿90.0

-18.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.21 ฿39.52

43.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 SAR 6.73

$1.62 ฿53.0

10.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.59 ฿51.8

-2.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.64

$1.40 ฿45.70

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.44

$1.17 ฿38.17

23.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 SAR 5.28

$0.66 ฿21.60

113.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 1.98

$0.53 ฿17.22

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.81 SAR 10.53

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 SAR 6.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 SAR 9.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.44 SAR 27.92

$4.69 ฿153

58.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.07

$0.90 ฿29.26

21.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.01 SAR 150

$19.21 ฿628

108.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 SAR 12.20

$1.41 ฿45.91

130.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$1.29 ฿42.12

43.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.56 SAR 50.9

$7.84 ฿256

72.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 SAR 2.01

$1.27 ฿41.58

-57.48%

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

$19.9K SAR 74.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-6.42%

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

$23.5K SAR 88.0K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

5.59%

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

$105 SAR 395

$69.1 ฿2,256

52.43%

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

$35.26 SAR 132

$14.08 ฿460

150.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 SAR 283

$18.00 ฿588

318.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.1 SAR 334

$41.06 ฿1,341

116.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.02 SAR 131

$6.96 ฿227

403.16%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 SAR 58.9

$5.92 ฿193

164.86%

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

$464 SAR 1,742

$299 ฿9,766

55.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,567 SAR 35.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-36.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$54.7 ฿1,787

8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 SAR 244

$26.77 ฿874

143.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SAR 402

$85.0 ฿2,776

25.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 SAR 370

$70.6 ฿2,306

39.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,649

$428 ฿14.0K

2.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 SAR 1,404

$237 ฿7,752

57.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 SAR 3,163

$801 ฿26.2K

5.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 SAR 2,295

$515 ฿16.8K

18.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,358 SAR 8,850

$1,975 ฿64.5K

19.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,336 SAR 5,012

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-9.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 SAR 3,930

$617 ฿20.2K

69.58%

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 Mubarraz: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Al Mubarraz versus $428 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 70% higher in Al Mubarraz, 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 $39.00 in Al Mubarraz versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Al Mubarraz vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Al Mubarraz 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 Mubarraz vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,301 in Al Mubarraz, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 50% apart. Al Mubarraz costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,952 per month in Al Mubarraz and $1,300 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 $464 per month in Al Mubarraz and $299 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 9% cheaper in Al Mubarraz – 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 $866, than in Al Mubarraz at $1,301. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Mubarraz 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 $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,301 in Al Mubarraz. 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 Mubarraz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.