🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $519 in Al-Qusayr versus $869 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $808 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,362 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,855 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Al-Qusayr costs roughly 40% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Qusayr61% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07SYP 671
$1.98฿64.3
206.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.52SYP 3,041
$18.80฿612
46.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44SYP 601
$7.75฿252
-29.81%
Cappuccino
$1.49SYP 165
$1.92฿62.5
-22.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99SYP 109
$0.79฿25.79
25.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72SYP 79.2
$0.36฿11.62
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57SYP 174
$2.21฿72.1
-28.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57SYP 284
$3.66฿119
-29.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04SYP 114
$1.65฿53.8
-36.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58SYP 64.4
$1.63฿53.2
-64.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69SYP 187
$1.19฿38.86
42.02%
Eggs
$1.86SYP 206
$2.00฿65.1
-7.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.13SYP 346
$15.98฿520
-80.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.54SYP 834
$3.03฿98.5
148.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25SYP 1,243
$10.86฿354
3.59%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86SYP 95.5
$2.76฿90.0
-68.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74SYP 192
$1.18฿38.42
47.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03SYP 113
$1.64฿53.5
-37.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94SYP 104
$1.52฿49.51
-38.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61SYP 67.4
$1.38฿45.10
-55.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65SYP 71.9
$1.19฿38.84
-45.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40SYP 44.26
$0.70฿22.86
-42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62SYP 68.9
$0.56฿18.13
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09SYP 341
$4.58฿149
-32.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92SYP 654
$16.56฿539
-64.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03SYP 113
$1.83฿59.5
-43.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75SYP 193
$3.20฿104
-45.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99SYP 109
$1.36฿44.16
-27.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02SYP 112
$1.34฿43.65
-23.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.99SYP 109
$7.84฿256
-87.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98SYP 108
$1.23฿39.92
-20.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3KSYP 2.0M
$21.6K฿704.3K
-15.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KSYP 2.3M
$22.5K฿734.3K
-8.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101SYP 11.2K
$70.5฿2,298
43.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.36SYP 924
$13.68฿445
-38.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6SYP 6,140
$17.45฿568
218.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.01SYP 333
$5.77฿188
-47.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.32SYP 4,787
$307฿10.0K
-85.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,822SYP 201.4K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-87.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.26SYP 3,233
$55.8฿1,817
-47.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.83SYP 2,854
$26.21฿854
-1.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.15SYP 4,989
$85.8฿2,793
-47.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.1SYP 6,204
$72.2฿2,353
-22.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Qusayr
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.75
5
175.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-Qusayr: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Al-Qusayr vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $241, 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $779 in Al-Qusayr and $1,303 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 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 vs Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $519 per month in Al-Qusayr versus $869 in Chiang Mai – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Al-Qusayr or Chiang Mai?
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.
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 67% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.