Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Qusayr and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Qusayr and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $520 in Al-Qusayr versus $852 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $813 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,106 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Al-Qusayr costs roughly 39% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Qusayr 61% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.85 SYP 710

$2.04 ฿68.4

186.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.55 SYP 3,347

$18.71 ฿626

47.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 SYP 648

$7.86 ฿263

-32.06%

Cappuccino

$1.55 SYP 189

$2.03 ฿67.9

-23.65%

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

$1.02 SYP 124

$0.80 ฿26.71

27.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 SYP 81.9

$0.35 ฿11.71

91.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 SYP 198

$2.14 ฿71.7

-23.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 SYP 307

$3.67 ฿123

-31.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 SYP 126

$1.73 ฿57.8

-40.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 SYP 71.8

$1.57 ฿52.5

-62.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 SYP 211

$1.20 ฿40.10

44.17%

Eggs

$1.91 SYP 233

$1.97 ฿66.0

-3.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.11 SYP 378

$16.23 ฿543

-80.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.54 SYP 916

$3.06 ฿102

146.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.22 SYP 1,363

$10.80 ฿361

3.89%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 SYP 112

$2.77 ฿92.6

-66.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 SYP 218

$1.17 ฿39.05

53.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 SYP 120

$1.71 ฿57.1

-42.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 SYP 111

$1.59 ฿53.3

-42.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 SYP 79.7

$1.39 ฿46.63

-52.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 SYP 75.8

$1.16 ฿38.67

-46.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 SYP 45.32

$0.66 ฿22.11

-43.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 SYP 76.5

$0.52 ฿17.35

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 SYP 358

$4.65 ฿155

-36.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.11 SYP 985

$17.78 ฿595

-54.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 SYP 119

$1.79 ฿59.8

-45.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 SYP 220

$3.34 ฿112

-45.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 SYP 125

$1.41 ฿47.17

-26.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.34 ฿44.82

-23.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SYP 119

$8.11 ฿271

-87.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 SYP 125

$1.23 ฿41.27

-16.26%

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

$18.2K SYP 2.2M

$21.4K ฿717.0K

-15.25%

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

$21.3K SYP 2.6M

$21.8K ฿730.0K

-2.23%

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

$100 SYP 12.2K

$71.3 ฿2,386

40.56%

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

$8.38 SYP 1,018

$14.01 ฿469

-40.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.3 SYP 6,592

$17.93 ฿600

202.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 SYP 370

$5.72 ฿191

-46.85%

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

$43.07 SYP 5,233

$308 ฿10.3K

-86.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,827 SYP 222.0K

$14.7K ฿491.0K

-87.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.30 SYP 3,560

$55.8 ฿1,865

-47.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.87 SYP 3,144

$26.04 ฿871

-0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.46 SYP 5,524

$84.8 ฿2,837

-46.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.1 SYP 6,699

$71.0 ฿2,375

-22.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

175.00%

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

Last update for Al-Qusayr: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Al-Qusayr vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $244, with Al-Qusayr cheaper for home cooking.

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

Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $780 in Al-Qusayr and $1,279 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $520 per month in Al-Qusayr versus $852 in Chiang Mai – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Qusayr gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Al-Qusayr 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-Qusayr 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-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.