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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,042 in Al Hufuf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,615 in Al Hufuf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,187 in Al Hufuf, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Al Hufuf are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Al Hufuf 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.75 SAR 25.35

-71.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$48.64 SAR 183

-61.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.88 SAR 29.58

-0.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.00 SAR 15.02

-51.25%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.64 SAR 2.40

32.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.22 SAR 0.83

59.09%

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

$1.56 SAR 5.84

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.02 SAR 3.81

59.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.26 SAR 8.50

-49.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.98 SAR 7.42

-2.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.59 SAR 20.98

189.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.55 SAR 24.58

-52.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-19.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.66 SAR 6.24

65.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.62 SAR 6.08

-25.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.37 SAR 5.13

18.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.12 SAR 4.20

41.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.94 SAR 3.54

48.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.00 SAR 3.75

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.35 SAR 5.07

-51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.55 SAR 2.07

-3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 SAR 6.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 SAR 4.28

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.23 SAR 23.38

-24.72%

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

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$39.61 SAR 149

-51.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.70 SAR 10.12

-47.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.88 SAR 7.06

-31.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.15 SAR 49.35

-40.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.64 SAR 2.40

98.44%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.3K SAR 132.4K

-39.68%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$23.4K SAR 88.0K

-5.23%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$80.8 SAR 303

-14.47%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$31.12 SAR 117

-54.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$76.8 SAR 288

-76.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$142 SAR 534

-71.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$33.20 SAR 125

-79.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.08 SAR 49.09

-54.74%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$295 SAR 1,108

1.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,132 SAR 15.5K

261.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$12.44 SAR 46.67

339.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$16.13 SAR 60.5

65.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$41.33 SAR 155

105.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$33.74 SAR 127

109.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$355 SAR 1,331

20.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$266 SAR 997

-10.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$729 SAR 2,735

9.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$403 SAR 1,512

27.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,353 SAR 8,830

-16.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,315 SAR 4,937

12.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,935 SAR 7,263

-68.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

100.00%

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 Hufuf: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $355 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 213% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Al Hufuf. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $179 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 20%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,563 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $49.00 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $1,042 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 $866, than in Al Hufuf at $1,042. 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.