Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-masna'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-masna'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,219 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,619 in Al-masna'ah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Al-masna'ah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Al-masna'ah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Al-masna'ah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$5.09 OMR 1.95

-61.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$26.23 OMR 10.07

-28.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$7.59 OMR 2.92

4.35%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$4.95 OMR 1.90

-61.41%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$1.06 OMR 0.41

-20.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.32 OMR 0.12

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$12.52 OMR 4.81

-82.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$11.83 OMR 4.54

-67.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.91 OMR 0.73

-14.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$1.18 OMR 0.45

37.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$1.71 OMR 0.66

-30.99%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.39 OMR 0.92

-15.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$3.81 OMR 1.46

317.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$5.12 OMR 1.97

-41.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$8.66 OMR 3.33

24.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.57 OMR 0.99

1.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-26.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.76 OMR 0.67

-3.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.14 OMR 0.44

38.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.99 OMR 0.38

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$1.03 OMR 0.39

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-35.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.56 OMR 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$6.45 OMR 2.48

-29.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$15.42 OMR 5.92

18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$4.33 OMR 1.66

-57.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$7.58 OMR 2.91

-57.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$3.09 OMR 1.19

-56.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$0.81 OMR 0.31

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$10.28 OMR 3.95

-19.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$0.64 OMR 0.25

98.44%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$22.5K OMR 8,634

-5.91%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$22.0K OMR 8,434

2.38%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$109 OMR 41.69

-35.38%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$41.99 OMR 16.12

-67.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$70.2 OMR 26.94

-74.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$10.59 OMR 4.07

-45.42%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$190 OMR 73.1

60.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$9,774 OMR 3,753

51.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$50.1 OMR 19.25

8.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$39.12 OMR 15.02

-33.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$79.1 OMR 30.38

6.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$88.9 OMR 34.14

-21.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$4,049 OMR 1,555

-84.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

-2.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al-masna'ah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 537% higher in Al-masna'ah, 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 $26.00 in Al-masna'ah. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $229 in Al-masna'ah – so Al-masna'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-masna'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $818 in Al-masna'ah – roughly 4% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,227 in Al-masna'ah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $818 in Al-masna'ah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $190 in Al-masna'ah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $818 in Al-masna'ah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $818 in Al-masna'ah to $852 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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-masna'ah. 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.