Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 23% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-73.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$35.27 SAR 132

-44.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.78 SAR 25.48

-16.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.98 SAR 11.18

-39.26%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.77 SAR 2.90

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.20 SAR 0.77

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.80 SAR 6.77

13.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.27 SAR 4.78

18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.87 SAR 7.02

-25.13%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.18 SAR 8.19

3.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$7.26 SAR 27.26

123.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$7.74 SAR 29.06

-62.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.95 SAR 48.63

-27.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.19 SAR 8.23

22.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-34.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.58 SAR 5.92

2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.56 SAR 5.84

-6.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.11 SAR 4.18

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.16 SAR 4.37

-8.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-43.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-8.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-44.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.98 SAR 3.69

-10.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$35.71 SAR 134

50.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.74 SAR 10.28

-57.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-77.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-82.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.60 SAR 2.27

141.67%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

-68.49%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

25.57%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$127 SAR 478

-49.96%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$32.69 SAR 123

-60.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$64.4 SAR 242

-68.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$77.7 SAR 292

-49.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$28.77 SAR 108

-86.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-51.55%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$419 SAR 1,574

87.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

88.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$42.01 SAR 158

31.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$49.62 SAR 186

-50.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$97.9 SAR 368

-3.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$91.6 SAR 344

-19.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$584 SAR 2,193

-16.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$369 SAR 1,385

-21.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$985 SAR 3,700

-9.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$673 SAR 2,529

-22.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,416 SAR 5,319

39.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$600 SAR 2,253

140.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,520 SAR 5,708

-60.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.9

-5.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 153% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $199, with Ad Dammam 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

Chiang Mai vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 153% lower in Ad Dammam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 51% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $932 in Chiang Mai versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $932 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ad Dammam 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.