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: $631 in Al-Qusayr versus $950 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,430 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,378 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,909 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Al-Qusayr costs roughly 34% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Qusayr 54% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.96 SYP 1,210
$2.10 ฿69.3
374.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.13 SYP 5,484
$19.84 ฿656
127.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 SYP 875
$5.79 ฿191
24.35%
Cappuccino
$3.77 SYP 459
$1.83 ฿60.4
106.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SYP 275
$0.78 ฿25.61
189.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 SYP 102
$0.31 ฿10.37
170.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 SYP 233
$2.34 ฿77.2
-17.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 SYP 360
$3.70 ฿122
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 SYP 128
$2.03 ฿67.1
-48.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 SYP 50.7
$1.60 ฿52.7
-73.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 SYP 192
$1.42 ฿46.75
11.27%
Eggs
$1.61 SYP 195
$2.18 ฿71.9
-26.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.83 SYP 466
$15.91 ฿526
-75.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 SYP 713
$3.07 ฿102
91.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.59 SYP 1,652
$9.87 ฿326
37.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 SYP 126
$2.63 ฿86.8
-60.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 SYP 167
$1.10 ฿36.19
24.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 SYP 138
$1.63 ฿53.8
-30.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 SYP 123
$1.53 ฿50.6
-33.99%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 SYP 98.2
$1.24 ฿41.13
-34.68%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 SYP 97.6
$1.13 ฿37.37
-29.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 SYP 49.26
$0.74 ฿24.38
-44.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 SYP 80.1
$0.50 ฿16.48
32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80 SYP 340
$4.28 ฿141
-34.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 SYP 718
$17.97 ฿594
-67.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 SYP 130
$1.70 ฿56.1
-37.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 SYP 362
$2.90 ฿95.7
2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 SYP 124
$1.23 ฿40.76
-17.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 SYP 180
$0.53 ฿17.66
179.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 SYP 960
$2.40 ฿79.3
229.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.64 SYP 443
$1.44 ฿47.55
152.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.1K SYP 1.8M
$21.2K ฿700.2K
-28.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K SYP 2.3M
$27.3K ฿902.1K
-29.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 SYP 17.0K
$64.9 ฿2,145
115.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.72 SYP 1,181
$13.35 ฿441
-27.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.01 SYP 5,591
$20.83 ฿688
120.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.42 ฿1,336
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95 ฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.34 SYP 649
$6.71 ฿222
-20.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$65.4 SYP 7,945
$787 ฿26.0K
-91.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,769 SYP 215.0K
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-88.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.39 SYP 3,450
$56.2 ฿1,858
-49.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28 SYP 4,895
$24.95 ฿824
61.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.0 SYP 7,286
$92.7 ฿3,063
-35.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0 SYP 7,042
$75.1 ฿2,482
-22.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$605 ฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.25
5.57
155.83%

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

Last update for Al-Qusayr: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $45.00 in Al-Qusayr vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $242, 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
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Al-Qusayr?
Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $946 in Al-Qusayr and $1,426 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.
How do food prices compare in Al-Qusayr and in Chiang Mai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-Qusayr and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $631 per month in Al-Qusayr versus $950 in Chiang Mai – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-Qusayr or in Chiang Mai?
At $631 in Al-Qusayr versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Qusayr but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Qusayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al-Qusayr or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Al-Qusayr or Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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