Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abraq Khaitan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abraq Khaitan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,200 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,948 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,696 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Abraq Khaitan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Abraq Khaitan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Abraq Khaitan 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-36.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$65.8 KWD 20.17

-69.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$7.79 KWD 2.39

-25.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 KWD 1.50

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$4.13 KWD 1.27

-55.69%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$0.33 KWD 0.10

136.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$0.18 KWD 0.05

72.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.01 KWD 0.31

100.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$0.68 KWD 0.21

135.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$1.34 KWD 0.41

5.97%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$2.13 KWD 0.65

2.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.37 KWD 1.34

264.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.37 KWD 1.95

-51.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.16 KWD 2.50

20.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$2.33 KWD 0.71

12.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$1.60 KWD 0.49

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$1.27 KWD 0.39

28.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.32 KWD 0.41

15.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-6.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$0.64 KWD 0.19

76.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$1.01 KWD 0.31

-26.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$0.33 KWD 0.10

51.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.94 KWD 0.29

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 KWD 0.28

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 KWD 0.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$2.79 KWD 0.85

53.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

$0.83 KWD 0.26

13.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

$49.10 KWD 15.05

12.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$4.92 KWD 1.51

-75.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

$3.22 KWD 0.99

-83.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$15.90 KWD 4.88

-84.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$0.30 KWD 0.09

380.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$16.3K KWD 5,000

29.96%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$16.2K KWD 4,961

68.75%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$65.6 KWD 20.12

-1.05%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$17.92 KWD 5.49

-25.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$29.81 KWD 9.14

-30.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

$56.1 KWD 17.21

-28.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$16.08 KWD 4.93

-75.44%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$9.54 KWD 2.93

-29.66%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$159 KWD 48.88

393.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

$3,291 KWD 1,009

359.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$38.34 KWD 11.75

46.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$31.85 KWD 9.76

-21.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$82.0 KWD 25.13

13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$64.9 KWD 19.89

15.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$723 KWD 222

-33.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

$581 KWD 178

-50.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,321 KWD 405

-31.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$1,146 KWD 351

-53.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$3,345 KWD 1,025

-81.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Abraq Khaitan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $723 in Abraq Khaitan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 453% higher in Abraq Khaitan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $66.0 in Abraq Khaitan. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $146 in Abraq Khaitan – so Abraq Khaitan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Abraq Khaitan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abraq Khaitan costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,800 in Abraq Khaitan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $159 in Abraq Khaitan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 65% cheaper in Abraq Khaitan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Abraq Khaitan at $1,200. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abraq Khaitan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,200 in Abraq Khaitan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abraq Khaitan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.