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 $1,240 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,880 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,519 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Al Mubarraz costs about 33% 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 9% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 SAR 28.62

$2.08 ฿69.3

266.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.77 SAR 138

$19.61 ฿653

87.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.15

$5.67 ฿189

41.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SAR 7.71

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.79

Cappuccino

$4.34 SAR 16.29

$1.81 ฿60.1

139.78%

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

$0.68 SAR 2.56

$0.77 ฿25.58

-11.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.35 ฿11.49

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.44

$2.05 ฿68.2

-16.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$1.51 ฿50.4

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 SAR 8.79

$1.40 ฿46.57

67.14%

Eggs

$3.20 SAR 12.01

$2.26 ฿75.2

41.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.73 SAR 36.56

$16.19 ฿539

-39.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 SAR 36.25

$2.90 ฿96.4

232.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.49 SAR 58.2

$9.42 ฿314

64.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 SAR 10.32

$2.68 ฿89.2

2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 SAR 7.27

$1.09 ฿36.28

77.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 SAR 8.51

$1.62 ฿53.8

40.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.53

$1.46 ฿48.61

19.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.28 ฿42.54

-7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.06 ฿35.21

29.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 SAR 6.22

$0.72 ฿23.88

130.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.53 ฿17.51

13.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.78 SAR 10.44

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SAR 9.25

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.48 SAR 28.09

$4.23 ฿141

76.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.94

$0.88 ฿29.24

19.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.55 SAR 137

$53.8 ฿1,790

-32.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.30

$1.17 ฿39.04

180.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.05

$0.58 ฿19.25

224.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.26 SAR 49.82

$2.39 ฿79.4

454.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.28

$1.45 ฿48.28

-57.93%

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

$36.3K SAR 136.5K

$21.0K ฿699.5K

72.99%

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

$22.6K SAR 84.8K

$26.4K ฿879.7K

-14.53%

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

$96.1 SAR 361

$63.7 ฿2,119

50.92%

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

$32.18 SAR 121

$12.89 ฿429

149.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$20.52 ฿683

241.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.7 SAR 322

$39.02 ฿1,299

119.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.68 SAR 138

$3.92 ฿130

835.71%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 SAR 50.8

$6.58 ฿219

105.47%

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

$551 SAR 2,070

$784 ฿26.1K

-29.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K SAR 42.2K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-23.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 SAR 218

$55.1 ฿1,835

5.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 SAR 215

$24.74 ฿824

131.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 SAR 413

$94.1 ฿3,133

16.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 SAR 404

$74.0 ฿2,462

45.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 SAR 2,157

$490 ฿16.3K

17.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,302

$288 ฿9,594

20.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 SAR 3,330

$891 ฿29.7K

-0.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 SAR 2,066

$521 ฿17.3K

5.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,371 SAR 8,904

$1,974 ฿65.7K

20.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,396 SAR 5,243

$1,444 ฿48.1K

-3.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 SAR 3,992

$602 ฿20.0K

76.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

5.57

-0.54%

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

Last update for Al Mubarraz: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Al Mubarraz versus $490 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 77% 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 $37.00 in Al Mubarraz versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Al Mubarraz vs $241 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: $1,240 in Al Mubarraz, $932 in Chiang Mai – roughly 33% apart. Al Mubarraz costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,860 per month in Al Mubarraz and $1,398 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 $551 per month in Al Mubarraz and $784 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 1% 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 $932, than in Al Mubarraz at $1,240. 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 $932 in Chiang Mai to $1,240 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.