Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-Qurain Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Al-Qurain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,353 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,337 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,321 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 37% cheaper than Al-Qurain, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Al-Qurain is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$9.97 KWD 3.07

-79.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$81.8 KWD 25.15

-77.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.81 KWD 2.71

-10.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 KWD 0.78

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 KWD 1.11

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$5.84 KWD 1.80

-65.24%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.64 KWD 0.20

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.35 KWD 0.11

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

$1.62 KWD 0.50

6.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.25 KWD 0.38

25.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.73 KWD 0.53

-30.64%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.02 KWD 0.62

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$5.18 KWD 1.59

213.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.34 KWD 1.95

-51.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$10.24 KWD 3.15

5.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.37 KWD 0.73

16.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.95 KWD 0.60

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.76 KWD 0.54

-2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.46 KWD 0.45

8.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.28 KWD 0.39

8.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-60.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.49 KWD 0.15

6.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.13 KWD 0.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.01 KWD 0.93

54.49%

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

$0.83 KWD 0.25

9.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$43.38 KWD 13.34

-57.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-57.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$3.30 KWD 1.01

-59.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$16.12 KWD 4.96

-49.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.34 KWD 0.10

261.76%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$21.2K KWD 6,518

1.16%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$19.5K KWD 5,986

12.15%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$62.1 KWD 19.11

14.83%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$18.66 KWD 5.74

-24.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$25.71 KWD 7.91

-30.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$93.2 KWD 28.68

-56.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$46.02 KWD 14.15

-85.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$11.54 KWD 3.55

-50.43%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$395 KWD 121

-21.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$6,591 KWD 2,027

122.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$41.60 KWD 12.79

34.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$43.17 KWD 13.28

-39.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$86.3 KWD 26.54

-1.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$80.9 KWD 24.88

-12.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$806 KWD 248

-47.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$615 KWD 189

-60.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$1,562 KWD 480

-48.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$1,268 KWD 390

-60.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$4,450 KWD 1,369

-86.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

-29.97%

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-Qurain: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $806 in Al-Qurain. 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 648% higher in Al-Qurain, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $82.0 in Al-Qurain. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $178 in Al-Qurain – so Al-Qurain 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-Qurain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al-Qurain is pricier by about 59%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,029 in Al-Qurain. 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.

Public transport costs about 133% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $395 in Al-Qurain. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Al-Qurain at $1,353. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-Qurain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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