Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-'aziziyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-'aziziyah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $322 in Al-'aziziyah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $546 in Al-'aziziyah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $769 in Al-'aziziyah.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 169% more expensive than Al-'aziziyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Al-'aziziyah 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$4.70 LYD 29.91

-58.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.21 LYD 116

2.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.77 LYD 23.97

107.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.40

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 LYD 4.20

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$0.51 LYD 3.26

282.35%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.45 LYD 2.87

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.11 LYD 0.67

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.03 LYD 6.57

66.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.21 LYD 1.33

676.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.24 LYD 7.87

-8.06%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.46 LYD 9.26

32.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.85 LYD 30.83

234.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.27 LYD 20.81

-4.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.16 LYD 64.6

7.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.14 LYD 13.60

28.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.28 LYD 8.16

-5.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.81 LYD 5.12

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.52 LYD 3.32

205.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.70 LYD 4.47

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.53 LYD 3.40

120.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.39 LYD 2.47

69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.20 LYD 1.27

165.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.24 LYD 7.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 LYD 4.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 LYD 4.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.85 LYD 11.75

153.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.96 LYD 6.08

46.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.86 LYD 5.46

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.53 LYD 28.78

73.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.03 LYD 0.20

4133.33%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$14.0K LYD 89.0K

52.03%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$16.4K LYD 104.5K

35.23%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$31.94 LYD 203

116.25%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.43 LYD 53.6

67.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.33 LYD 148

-22.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.64 LYD 29.54

27.59%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$53.1 LYD 338

462.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$934 LYD 5,941

1500.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$21.44 LYD 136

155.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$36.04 LYD 229

-25.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$50.5 LYD 321

68.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$55.5 LYD 353

27.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.5

-71.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-'aziziyah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $18.00 in Al-'aziziyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $116 per month, with Al-'aziziyah 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 Al-'aziziyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Al-'aziziyah differ by about 169% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $322 including rent). Al-'aziziyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $483 in Al-'aziziyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 112% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $322 in Al-'aziziyah – a 169% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Al-'aziziyah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al-'aziziyah 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 Al-'aziziyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.