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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,089 in Al Hufuf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,715 in Al Hufuf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,340 in Al Hufuf, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Al Hufuf are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Al Hufuf 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$6.69 SAR 25.10

-68.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$54.3 SAR 204

-63.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$7.27 SAR 27.28

-20.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 SAR 6.80

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$3.89 SAR 14.61

-52.96%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$0.64 SAR 2.39

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$0.28 SAR 1.04

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.67 SAR 6.27

21.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$0.83 SAR 3.13

92.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$2.45 SAR 9.18

-42.04%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$2.11 SAR 7.93

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.78 SAR 25.47

134.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$7.95 SAR 29.83

-61.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$15.57 SAR 58.5

-36.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$1.64 SAR 6.14

60.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-35.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$1.29 SAR 4.85

26.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.10 SAR 4.12

39.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$1.09 SAR 4.08

13.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$0.79 SAR 2.95

43.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$1.35 SAR 5.07

-45.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$0.54 SAR 2.04

-7.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SAR 9.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$6.60 SAR 24.77

-35.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

$1.04 SAR 3.90

-9.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

$32.06 SAR 120

72.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$3.29 SAR 12.34

-62.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

$1.87 SAR 7.03

-71.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$13.42 SAR 50.4

-82.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$0.60 SAR 2.27

140.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$36.5K SAR 136.9K

-41.86%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$22.1K SAR 83.0K

23.45%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$96.7 SAR 363

-32.84%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$31.97 SAR 120

-58.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$71.0 SAR 267

-70.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

$109 SAR 410

-62.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$34.74 SAR 130

-88.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$13.57 SAR 51.0

-50.55%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$543 SAR 2,037

45.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

$11.1K SAR 41.6K

36.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$17.58 SAR 66.0

219.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$18.78 SAR 70.5

32.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$42.46 SAR 159

118.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$31.81 SAR 119

136.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$589 SAR 2,209

-17.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

$300 SAR 1,124

-4.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$905 SAR 3,397

0.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$530 SAR 1,991

0.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

$2,207 SAR 8,286

-10.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

$1,170 SAR 4,393

24.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,982 SAR 7,440

-69.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.54

0.54%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Al Hufuf: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $589 in Al Hufuf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 227% higher in Al Hufuf, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $54.0 in Al Hufuf. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Al Hufuf – so Al Hufuf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Hufuf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hufuf is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,634 in Al Hufuf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $54.0 in Al Hufuf. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $1,089 in Al Hufuf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Al Hufuf at $1,089. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Hufuf it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Hufuf makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.