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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 29% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-73.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$53.0 SAR 199

-65.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-5.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$3.55 SAR 13.34

-43.10%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.64 SAR 6.15

0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$1.42 SAR 5.32

10.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$2.12 SAR 7.96

-43.87%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$2.31 SAR 8.68

-16.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$5.99 SAR 22.48

170.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$7.32 SAR 27.49

-59.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$10.07 SAR 37.81

8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$2.09 SAR 7.85

29.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$1.55 SAR 5.82

-24.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.39 SAR 5.23

21.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-3.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$1.28 SAR 4.79

7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-12.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-48.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.55 SAR 2.08

1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.12 SAR 15.47

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-40.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.94 SAR 3.51

-6.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$39.30 SAR 148

-50.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-58.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-50.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-39.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$0.61 SAR 2.29

100.00%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

-3.92%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

8.03%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$118 SAR 444

-40.29%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$38.60 SAR 145

-63.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$63.4 SAR 238

-72.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$70.7 SAR 266

-40.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$30.89 SAR 116

-77.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$15.30 SAR 57.5

-61.31%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$427 SAR 1,602

-27.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

81.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$68.0 SAR 255

-18.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$67.8 SAR 255

-61.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$90.5 SAR 340

-8.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$86.1 SAR 323

-18.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$452 SAR 1,697

-4.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$376 SAR 1,413

-36.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$792 SAR 2,976

3.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$636 SAR 2,388

-19.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$1,320 SAR 4,956

45.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$812 SAR 3,051

80.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$1,502 SAR 5,640

-61.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

15.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 159% 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: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $185, 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 41% 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 159% 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 103% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,211 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 $861 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 41% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.