Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Amwaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Amwaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $611 in Amwaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,438 in Amwaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,265 in Amwaj, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Amwaj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Amwaj 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$10.67 BHD 4.02

-80.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$31.65 BHD 11.93

-38.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.20 BHD 3.84

-44.41%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.92 BHD 1.48

-53.83%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$2.15 BHD 0.81

-64.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.69 BHD 0.26

-49.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$7.80 BHD 2.94

-71.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$10.45 BHD 3.94

-63.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.20 BHD 1.96

-18.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.68 BHD 0.26

113.24%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$36.5K BHD 13.8K

-27.64%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$130 BHD 48.99

-51.03%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$24.31 BHD 9.16

-46.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$66.3 BHD 24.97

-69.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

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

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$13.1K BHD 4,942

11.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$66.0 BHD 24.87

-16.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$66.2 BHD 24.96

-62.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$91.8 BHD 34.58

2.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$117 BHD 44.10

-36.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$2,393 BHD 902

-62.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$3,003 BHD 1,132

-82.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$3,916 BHD 1,476

-84.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 551% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Amwaj. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the 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 Amwaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $916 in Amwaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $611 in Amwaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $32.00 in Amwaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $611, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amwaj costs $611 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Amwaj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.