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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,411 in Chiang Mai versus $1,246 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,874 in Chiang Mai versus $2,105 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 144% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Al-Rumaitha 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$0.78 IQD 1,015

71.79%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.80 IQD 2,355

25.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$1.95 IQD 2,549

51.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$10.57 IQD 13.8K

-5.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$0.75 IQD 982

242.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$0.78 IQD 1,027

35.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$0.77 IQD 1,011

109.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$0.36 IQD 476

322.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$0.40 IQD 520

217.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$0.39 IQD 515

174.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$0.39 IQD 512

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.39 IQD 512

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$1.50 IQD 1,965

179.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$12.76 IQD 16.7K

40.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$1.55 IQD 2,027

9.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$2.31 IQD 3,031

22.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$0.36 IQD 475

158.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$2.32 IQD 3,040

-46.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$0.77 IQD 1,009

-24.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$9,188 IQD 12.0M

197.49%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

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

$12.85 ฿426

$75.0 IQD 98.3K

-82.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$26.91 IQD 35.2K

43.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$3.87 IQD 5,073

2.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$11.47 IQD 15.0K

-41.24%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

381.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$14.99 IQD 19.6K

69.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$22.81 IQD 29.9K

221.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$150 IQD 196.8K

225.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$114 IQD 149.6K

153.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$229 IQD 300.4K

289.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$1,537 IQD 2.0M

-66.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Rumaitha: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 144% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,421 in Chiang Mai and $582 in Al-Rumaitha 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $150 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 116% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $947 per month in Chiang Mai versus $388 in Al-Rumaitha – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.