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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $920 in Chiang Mai versus $655 in Al-Qusayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Chiang Mai versus $1,035 in Al-Qusayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Chiang Mai versus $1,416 in Al-Qusayr.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 41% more expensive than in Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 33% lower, Al-Qusayr 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$9.89 SYP 1,202

-78.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$42.62 SYP 5,178

-53.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.86 SYP 834

-14.72%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$3.80 SYP 461

-53.68%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$2.22 SYP 270

-66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.96 SYP 117

-65.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$1.95 SYP 237

26.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.93 SYP 356

32.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.07 SYP 131

77.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.44 SYP 53.3

279.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.60 SYP 195

-15.63%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.56 SYP 190

37.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$3.79 SYP 460

319.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$5.84 SYP 710

-51.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$14.00 SYP 1,701

-24.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$0.99 SYP 121

140.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.44 SYP 174

-25.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.08 SYP 132

40.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.02 SYP 124

47.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.75 SYP 91.1

70.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.64 SYP 77.9

71.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.43 SYP 52.6

60.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.70 SYP 85.3

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.78 SYP 338

53.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$6.02 SYP 732

178.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$1.10 SYP 134

50.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.92 SYP 355

-3.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.02 SYP 124

17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$1.53 SYP 186

-64.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$7.83 SYP 951

-69.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$3.74 SYP 454

-61.76%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$15.8K SYP 1.9M

33.01%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$19.5K SYP 2.4M

39.14%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$142 SYP 17.2K

-54.26%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$9.83 SYP 1,194

34.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$46.69 SYP 5,673

-58.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$5.12 SYP 622

29.30%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$67.1 SYP 8,146

1100.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$1,792 SYP 217.7K

743.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$31.73 SYP 3,855

72.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$49.23 SYP 5,981

-48.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$59.7 SYP 7,253

53.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$57.7 SYP 7,015

29.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.25

-60.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Al-Qusayr: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $43.00 in Al-Qusayr. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $171, with Al-Qusayr cheaper for home cooking.

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-Qusayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,380 in Chiang Mai and $982 in Al-Qusayr 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 39% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $920 per month in Chiang Mai versus $655 in Al-Qusayr – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $655 in Al-Qusayr versus $920 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Qusayr but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Qusayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Al-Qusayr 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 Al-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.