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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $605 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,044 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,483 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Al Mafraq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Al Mafraq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Al Mafraq 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.30 JOD 3.04

-54.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$48.74 JOD 34.49

-61.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.11 JOD 2.91

90.27%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.40 JOD 0.99

39.29%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.34 JOD 0.24

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.36 JOD 0.26

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$5.60 JOD 3.96

-61.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$7.19 JOD 5.09

-48.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.08 JOD 0.76

58.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.27 JOD 0.19

503.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.10 JOD 0.78

3.64%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.28 JOD 0.90

50.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$5.60 JOD 3.96

189.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.44 JOD 2.44

-9.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$4.87 JOD 3.45

123.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.68 JOD 0.48

304.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.88 JOD 0.62

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.39 JOD 0.98

16.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.34 JOD 0.24

367.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.84 JOD 0.59

66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.58 JOD 0.41

101.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.66 JOD 0.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.43 JOD 0.31

23.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.37 JOD 2.39

39.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$21.06 JOD 14.90

-11.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$4.63 JOD 3.28

-61.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$5.29 JOD 3.74

-38.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.34 JOD 0.24

164.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.70 JOD 0.49

101.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.43 JOD 1.01

-9.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.07 JOD 5.00

10.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.45 JOD 1.03

-12.41%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$27.7K JOD 19.6K

-23.13%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$32.2K JOD 22.8K

-30.92%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$105 JOD 74.0

-33.96%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$16.88 JOD 11.94

-16.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.92 JOD 19.76

-35.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$28.53 JOD 20.19

43.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$11.46 JOD 8.11

-48.34%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$69.2 JOD 48.98

332.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,488 JOD 3,884

172.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$28.22 JOD 19.97

93.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$49.03 JOD 34.70

-45.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$113 JOD 80.2

-24.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$41.77 JOD 29.56

69.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$70.0 JOD 49.55

511.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$277 JOD 196

189.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$143 JOD 102

259.34%

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

$1,047 JOD 741

-41.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.27

-31.22%

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 Mafraq: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 in Al Mafraq. 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 70% higher in Al Mafraq, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Al Mafraq. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Al Mafraq – so Al Mafraq 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 Mafraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $908 in Al Mafraq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Mafraq, 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 Mafraq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $605 in Al Mafraq, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Al Mafraq – 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 Al Mafraq. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.