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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $829 in Al Mukalla versus $947 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,663 in Al Mukalla versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,498 in Al Mukalla versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Al Mukalla costs roughly 13% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mukalla 40% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 YER 3,946

$2.08 ฿68.6

701.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 YER 20.3K

$19.64 ฿646

337.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

Cappuccino

$8.53 YER 2,020

$1.81 ฿59.4

371.27%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 YER 195

$0.32 ฿10.38

156.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

Eggs

$10.65 YER 2,521

$2.26 ฿74.5

371.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.47 YER 3,426

$16.26 ฿535

-11.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$26.13 YER 6,184

$2.95 ฿97.1

785.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$60.1 YER 14.2K

$9.94 ฿327

504.53%

Apples (1kg)

$14.94 YER 3,538

$2.57 ฿84.6

481.32%

Banana (1kg)

$6.17 YER 1,461

$1.06 ฿34.73

482.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.09 YER 1,205

$1.61 ฿53.0

216.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.39 YER 802

$1.52 ฿49.97

123.03%

Potato (1kg)

$7.55 YER 1,787

$1.27 ฿41.77

494.49%

Onion (1kg)

$4.17 YER 987

$1.07 ฿35.06

289.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 YER 590

$0.51 ฿16.72

388.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Al Mukalla: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $86.0 in Al Mukalla vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $607 vs $240 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Mukalla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Mukalla is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,243 in Al Mukalla and $1,421 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 152% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Al Mukalla – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $829 in Al Mukalla versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Mukalla but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Al Mukalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al Mukalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Al Mukalla and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Mukalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.