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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,761 in Al Hidd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $2,233 in Al Hidd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,705 in Al Hidd.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 51% less than in Al Hidd, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Al Hidd is 32% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$6.72 BHD 2.53

-70.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$39.33 BHD 14.82

-53.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.46 BHD 2.81

0.27%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.73 BHD 1.03

-26.01%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.81 BHD 0.31

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.13 BHD 0.05

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$8.08 BHD 3.05

-73.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$10.41 BHD 3.92

-65.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.73 BHD 0.65

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.29 BHD 0.49

21.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.32 BHD 0.87

-48.71%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.47 BHD 0.93

-21.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.77 BHD 3.31

84.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.88 BHD 2.97

-62.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.07 BHD 3.79

8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.46 BHD 0.93

10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.05 BHD 0.77

-42.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.74 BHD 0.66

-2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.21 BHD 0.46

32.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.88 BHD 0.33

56.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.04 BHD 0.39

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.50 BHD 0.57

-55.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.94 BHD 0.35

-40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.51 BHD 2.45

-28.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$18.37 BHD 6.92

-4.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$3.47 BHD 1.31

-46.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.18 BHD 1.20

3.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.55 BHD 0.59

-43.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$52.9 BHD 19.95

-63.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$4.67 BHD 1.76

-70.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$3.95 BHD 1.49

-66.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$26.75 BHD 10.08

-69.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.37 BHD 0.14

229.73%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.7K BHD 7,422

8.43%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$20.6K BHD 7,778

9.17%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$123 BHD 46.51

-42.73%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$27.16 BHD 10.24

-48.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$38.86 BHD 14.65

-54.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$53.8 BHD 20.29

-87.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$10.74 BHD 4.05

-44.88%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$384 BHD 145

-19.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$8,780 BHD 3,309

69.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$45.44 BHD 17.13

22.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$62.3 BHD 23.47

-58.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$82.6 BHD 31.15

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$89.1 BHD 33.56

-20.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$663 BHD 250

-34.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$936 BHD 353

-74.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$808 BHD 305

1.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$783 BHD 295

-34.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,944 BHD 733

-70.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

-41.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Hidd: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $663 in Al Hidd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Hidd pays 236% 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 $39.00 in Al Hidd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $265 per month, with Chiang Mai 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 Hidd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 236% lower in Al Hidd. 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 $663 in Al Hidd. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 174% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $384 in Al Hidd. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,761 in Al Hidd, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Al Hidd. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al Hidd 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 105% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.