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: $869 in Chiang Mai versus $519 in Al-Qusayr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Chiang Mai versus $808 in Al-Qusayr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,855 in Chiang Mai versus $1,097 in Al-Qusayr.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 67% more expensive than Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Al-Qusayr 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$6.07 SYP 671

-67.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$27.52 SYP 3,041

-31.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$5.44 SYP 601

42.46%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.49 SYP 165

28.86%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.99 SYP 109

-20.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.72 SYP 79.2

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.57 SYP 174

40.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.57 SYP 284

42.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.04 SYP 114

58.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.58 SYP 64.4

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.69 SYP 187

-29.59%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.86 SYP 206

7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$3.13 SYP 346

410.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.54 SYP 834

-59.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.25 SYP 1,243

-3.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$0.86 SYP 95.5

220.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.74 SYP 192

-32.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.03 SYP 113

59.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.94 SYP 104

61.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.61 SYP 67.4

126.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.65 SYP 71.9

83.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.40 SYP 44.26

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.62 SYP 68.9

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.09 SYP 341

48.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$5.92 SYP 654

179.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.03 SYP 113

77.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.75 SYP 193

82.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.99 SYP 109

37.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.02 SYP 112

31.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.99 SYP 109

691.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.98 SYP 108

25.51%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$18.3K SYP 2.0M

18.37%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$20.7K SYP 2.3M

8.90%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$101 SYP 11.2K

-30.14%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$8.36 SYP 924

63.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$55.6 SYP 6,140

-68.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$3.01 SYP 333

91.69%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$43.32 SYP 4,787

608.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,822 SYP 201.4K

701.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$29.26 SYP 3,233

90.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.83 SYP 2,854

1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$45.15 SYP 4,989

89.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$56.1 SYP 6,204

28.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.75

-63.64%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Al-Qusayr: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $28.00 in Al-Qusayr. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $168, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,303 in Chiang Mai and $779 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 44% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Chiang Mai versus $519 in Al-Qusayr – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al-Qusayr gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 67% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.