Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and 'ali Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and 'ali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $825 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $1,329 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $1,833 in 'ali.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 3% more expensive than 'ali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, 'ali 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$6.64 BHD 2.50

-70.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$52.3 BHD 19.65

-64.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$5.39 BHD 2.03

46.94%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$5.38 BHD 2.02

-64.50%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.83 BHD 0.31

1.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.36 BHD 0.14

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$7.89 BHD 2.97

-71.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$10.59 BHD 3.98

-64.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.64 BHD 0.62

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.34 BHD 0.50

20.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$2.41 BHD 0.91

-51.04%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-15.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$8.52 BHD 3.20

86.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$7.74 BHD 2.91

-61.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$10.32 BHD 3.88

4.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.44 BHD 0.92

6.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$2.03 BHD 0.76

-39.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.67 BHD 0.63

1.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.21 BHD 0.46

30.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.88 BHD 0.33

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.09 BHD 0.41

7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.44 BHD 0.54

-53.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.92 BHD 0.35

-39.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$6.82 BHD 2.56

-33.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$18.33 BHD 6.89

-0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$3.39 BHD 1.28

-46.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.14 BHD 1.18

2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$4.50 BHD 1.69

-70.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$3.90 BHD 1.47

-65.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$26.30 BHD 9.89

-68.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$0.56 BHD 0.21

126.79%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$37.4K BHD 14.1K

-43.47%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$20.4K BHD 7,673

10.19%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$122 BHD 45.73

-42.32%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$27.29 BHD 10.26

-49.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$37.70 BHD 14.18

-53.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$10.51 BHD 3.95

-45.00%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$389 BHD 146

-21.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$8,818 BHD 3,316

68.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$45.91 BHD 17.26

18.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$63.7 BHD 23.93

-58.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$84.8 BHD 31.88

-0.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$90.0 BHD 33.82

-22.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$3,847 BHD 1,447

-83.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

-41.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for 'ali: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $0 in 'ali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

'ali pays 506% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19 in Chiang Mai vs $52 in 'ali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $263 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

Chiang Mai vs 'ali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, 'ali earns 506% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Chiang Mai pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $825 in 'ali – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, 'ali 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, Chiang Mai and 'ali 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 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.