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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $345 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $465 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $585 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 151% more expensive than Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Al Ghubra 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.27 OMR 0.10

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.87 OMR 0.72

-8.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.12 OMR 0.82

-46.23%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$5.18 OMR 1.99

-62.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.12 OMR 0.82

29.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.87 OMR 0.72

-35.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-12.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.31 OMR 0.51

21.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.68 OMR 0.26

105.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.68 OMR 0.26

72.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.50 OMR 0.19

6.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

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 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$113 OMR 43.36

-38.68%

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$84.3 OMR 32.46

-78.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$43.59 OMR 16.78

-5.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$36.90 OMR 14.21

-81.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$9.02 OMR 3.47

-34.37%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$185 OMR 71.1

62.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$10.6K OMR 4,066

41.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

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

$2,669 OMR 1,028

-76.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Ghubra: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 332% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Al Ghubra differ by about 151% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $345 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Al Ghubra earns 332% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $185 in Al Ghubra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $345 in Al Ghubra – a 151% 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 Ghubra 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 Ghubra 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 Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.