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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,169 in Al-Ula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,767 in Al-Ula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,365 in Al-Ula, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Al-Ula, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Al-Ula are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Al-Ula 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$6.84 SAR 25.69

-69.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$36.74 SAR 138

-46.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$8.02 SAR 30.10

-29.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$3.39 SAR 12.74

-46.61%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.88 SAR 3.30

-19.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.24 SAR 0.90

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.66 SAR 6.23

18.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.02 SAR 3.84

47.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-39.64%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.35 SAR 8.81

-3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$7.41 SAR 27.82

119.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$7.80 SAR 29.28

-62.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$12.87 SAR 48.33

-22.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.15 SAR 8.08

19.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.68 SAR 6.32

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.59 SAR 5.98

1.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.67 SAR 6.25

-8.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.15 SAR 4.30

10.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.31 SAR 4.92

-18.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.14 SAR 4.28

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.59 SAR 2.20

-13.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.86 SAR 10.73

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$6.60 SAR 24.78

-36.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$1.07 SAR 4.02

-13.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$36.60 SAR 137

47.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$3.01 SAR 11.29

-59.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.85 SAR 6.94

-68.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$13.27 SAR 49.84

-81.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.60 SAR 2.24

135.00%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$45.6K SAR 171.3K

-52.99%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

28.00%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$102 SAR 382

-37.45%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$32.80 SAR 123

-60.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$66.9 SAR 251

-69.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$83.1 SAR 312

-53.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$36.63 SAR 138

-89.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$13.43 SAR 50.4

-49.81%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$342 SAR 1,284

127.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$6,621 SAR 24.9K

120.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$50.8 SAR 191

6.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$59.3 SAR 223

-57.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$96.4 SAR 362

-2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$88.7 SAR 333

-17.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$571 SAR 2,142

-14.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$346 SAR 1,300

-16.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$872 SAR 3,273

2.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$553 SAR 2,077

-6.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,347 SAR 8,812

-16.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,379 SAR 5,179

7.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.47

1.83%

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-Ula: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $571 in Al-Ula. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Al-Ula. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $198 in Al-Ula – so Al-Ula 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-Ula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai, $1,169 in Al-Ula – roughly 23% apart. Al-Ula costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,753 in Al-Ula. 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.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $342 in Al-Ula. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Al-Ula – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Al-Ula at $1,169. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-Ula it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $947 in Chiang Mai to $1,169 in Al-Ula. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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-Ula makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.