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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $869 in Al Mukalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,546 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,222 in Al Mukalla.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 1% less than in Al Mukalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Al Mukalla 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$16.60 YER 3,930

-88.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$37.53 YER 8,883

-51.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$16.58 YER 3,924

-54.89%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$8.15 YER 1,929

-75.21%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$3.77 YER 891

-77.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.83 YER 197

-56.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.78 YER 185

101.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$6.46 YER 1,528

-81.58%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$7.18 YER 1,700

-72.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$14.54 YER 3,442

11.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$22.96 YER 5,434

-86.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$56.6 YER 13.4K

-80.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$12.91 YER 3,056

-79.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$4.70 YER 1,112

-75.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$4.86 YER 1,151

-65.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$3.25 YER 770

-50.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$5.46 YER 1,292

-74.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$4.14 YER 980

-71.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$2.52 YER 596

-77.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Mukalla: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $38.00 in Al Mukalla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $574 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Mukalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,304 in Al Mukalla to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 136% higher in Al Mukalla. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $38.00 in Al Mukalla. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Al Mukalla, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al Mukalla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Al Mukalla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.