Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al Majma'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al Majma'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,221 in Al Majma'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,927 in Al Majma'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,633 in Al Majma'ah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Al Majma'ah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Al Majma'ah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Al Majma'ah 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$7.92 SAR 29.75

-74.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$53.0 SAR 199

-64.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.79 SAR 29.24

0.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 SAR 8.70

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$4.05 SAR 15.22

-49.88%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.77 SAR 2.90

3.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.29 SAR 1.07

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.43 SAR 5.38

20.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.66 SAR 2.48

137.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.27 SAR 8.53

-47.14%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.29 SAR 8.58

-13.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$8.66 SAR 32.51

87.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.62 SAR 24.88

-53.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$11.58 SAR 43.50

-6.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.21 SAR 8.30

25.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-32.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.50 SAR 5.63

14.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.59 SAR 5.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.69 SAR 2.58

101.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.97 SAR 3.63

19.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-54.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.52 SAR 1.97

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.80 SAR 10.53

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 SAR 6.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$7.46 SAR 28.00

-37.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$1.08 SAR 4.06

-15.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$40.59 SAR 152

-54.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.28 SAR 12.32

-57.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.90 SAR 7.13

-29.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$13.29 SAR 49.91

-38.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.64 SAR 2.39

92.19%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$35.1K SAR 131.9K

-38.98%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$23.7K SAR 89.1K

-7.98%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$103 SAR 386

-30.58%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$34.75 SAR 130

-59.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$74.9 SAR 281

-76.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$86.4 SAR 325

-52.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$35.51 SAR 133

-80.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$15.93 SAR 59.8

-64.09%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$460 SAR 1,728

-32.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$9,463 SAR 35.5K

55.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$59.3 SAR 223

-6.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$63.7 SAR 239

-59.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$108 SAR 406

-21.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$97.6 SAR 367

-27.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$439 SAR 1,649

-3.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$374 SAR 1,404

-35.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$867 SAR 3,255

-8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$614 SAR 2,307

-17.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$2,503 SAR 9,398

-23.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,378 SAR 5,174

6.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

-5.84%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al Majma'ah: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $439 in Al Majma'ah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Al Majma'ah. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $184 in Al Majma'ah – so Al Majma'ah 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 Majma'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Majma'ah costs about 43% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,832 in Al Majma'ah. 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.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $460 in Al Majma'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Al Majma'ah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Al Majma'ah at $1,221. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Majma'ah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,221 in Al Majma'ah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Majma'ah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.