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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai versus $10.16 in Al Bayda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,411 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Al Bayda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,874 in Chiang Mai versus $21.12 in Al Bayda.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 9225% more expensive than in Al Bayda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Al Bayda 99% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

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

$0.71 ฿23.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.96

$1.61 LYD 10.21

-16.77%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.2

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.75

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$0.30 LYD 1.87

406.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.80

$0.46 LYD 2.89

176.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.09

$0.49 LYD 3.12

118.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿588

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,772

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.61

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.46

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

$21.4K ฿705.5K

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

$27.3K ฿899.3K

$14.0K LYD 88.7K

95.18%

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

$63.7 ฿2,095

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,275

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,786

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,104

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,416

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,518

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Al Bayda: August 31, 2026

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 Bayda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Bayda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 9225% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,421 in Chiang Mai and $15.24 in Al Bayda 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 2236% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $947 per month in Chiang Mai versus $10.16 in Al Bayda – a 9225% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $10.16 in Al Bayda versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Bayda but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Al Bayda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al Bayda is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al Bayda 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 Bayda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9225% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.