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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,197 in Al-Ula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,832 in Al-Ula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,467 in Al-Ula, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% 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 35% lower, Al-Ula 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.71 SAR 25.18

-71.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$44.97 SAR 169

-58.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.82 SAR 29.34

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.74 SAR 14.02

-47.86%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.80 SAR 3.02

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.29 SAR 1.07

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.68 SAR 6.31

1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.95 SAR 3.56

71.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.31 SAR 8.69

-50.65%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.67 SAR 25.02

143.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.71 SAR 28.94

-59.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.05 SAR 48.97

-16.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.27 SAR 8.52

21.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.59 SAR 5.95

-23.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.56 SAR 5.85

1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.24 SAR 4.66

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.23 SAR 4.63

-46.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.60 SAR 2.24

-11.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 SAR 7.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.19 SAR 26.98

-34.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$40.67 SAR 153

-52.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-46.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.89 SAR 7.10

-31.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.57 SAR 50.9

-42.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.61 SAR 2.29

108.20%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$26.9K SAR 101.1K

-21.03%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

-2.26%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$103 SAR 388

-33.21%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$33.67 SAR 126

-58.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$71.7 SAR 269

-74.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$86.9 SAR 326

-52.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$35.90 SAR 135

-80.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$15.87 SAR 59.5

-62.70%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$354 SAR 1,330

-15.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,940 SAR 26.0K

115.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$60.2 SAR 226

-9.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$59.2 SAR 222

-54.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$78.7 SAR 295

7.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$83.3 SAR 313

-15.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$444 SAR 1,667

-3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$374 SAR 1,405

-36.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$863 SAR 3,238

-7.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$615 SAR 2,309

-16.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,395 SAR 8,988

-17.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,347 SAR 5,057

9.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

13.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Al-Ula: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $444 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Al-Ula. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $197 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: $866 in Chiang Mai, $1,197 in Al-Ula – roughly 38% apart. Al-Ula costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,796 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $354 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 25% 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 $866, than in Al-Ula at $1,197. 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 $866 in Chiang Mai to $1,197 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.