Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al Ain Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al Ain

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 30.7% cheaper than Al Ain without rent, and 44.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 34.5% cheaper than Al Ain without rent, and 43.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$6.73 AED 24.71
-69.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$68 AED 250
-72.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.37 AED 30.75
-8.36%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$4.75 AED 17.45
-58.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.81 AED 2.98
1.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.38 AED 1.38
-13.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$8.19 AED 30.09
-74.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$10.9 AED 40.03
-65.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.85 AED 6.78
-11.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.47 AED 5.38
6.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.43 AED 8.92
-51.03%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$3.17 AED 11.65
-37.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$2.67 AED 9.81
498.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.59 AED 31.53
-63.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$6.72 AED 24.68
66.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.39 AED 8.78
15.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.65 AED 6.07
-26.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.33 AED 4.87
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.79 AED 2.9
96.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.7 AED 2.59
91.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.42 AED 1.54
188.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.58 AED 5.81
-54.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.59 AED 2.16
-10.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$6.45 AED 23.67
-26.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.53 AED 49.67
35.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.39 AED 5.12
28.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.22 AED 8.15
44.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.11 AED 4.07
-15.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$24.95 AED 91.6
-24.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.7 AED 9.92
-47.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.57 AED 2.08
136.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$8.33 AED 30.58
-5.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.76 AED 2.79
64.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$44.8K AED 164.5K
-52.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.4K AED 82.4K
-2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$91.2 AED 335
-22.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$50.5 AED 186
-72.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$97 AED 356
-81.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$52.9 AED 194
-21.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$40.58 AED 149
-83.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$11.33 AED 41.6
-48.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$625 AED 2,296
-50.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$3,882 AED 14.3K
278.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$22.04 AED 80.9
151.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$55.4 AED 203
-52.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$80.3 AED 295
6.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$53.8 AED 197
33.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$665 AED 2,440
-34.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$736 AED 2,702
-68.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$5,088 AED 18.7K
-83.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,218 AED 4,474
-59.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,055 AED 7,545
6.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,222 AED 4,486
26.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Al Ain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$3,339 AED 12.3K
-78.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.19
-3.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Al Ain: October 28, 2025

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