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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $870 in Al Mukalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,554 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $2,238 in Al Mukalla.

Monthly costs are close between Chiang Mai and Al Mukalla; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$16.72 YER 3,985

-88.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$37.33 YER 8,895

-50.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$16.27 YER 3,877

-51.94%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$8.09 YER 1,929

-75.90%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.77 YER 899

-77.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.78 YER 186

-55.13%

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

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.86 YER 205

89.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$6.60 YER 1,572

-82.73%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.29 YER 1,738

-73.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.27 YER 3,401

13.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$23.34 YER 5,561

-86.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$58.5 YER 13.9K

-81.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$12.76 YER 3,042

-78.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$4.83 YER 1,151

-74.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$4.80 YER 1,144

-66.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.20 YER 764

-50.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$5.21 YER 1,243

-73.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$4.16 YER 990

-71.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$2.48 YER 591

-78.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

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

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

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

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al Mukalla: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $37.00 in Al Mukalla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $581 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

You'd need roughly $1,300 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $37.00 in Al Mukalla. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $870 in Al Mukalla, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Al Mukalla. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Chiang Mai wins on affordability, Al Mukalla on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.