Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,412 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,890 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ar-rustaq 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$5.27 OMR 2.03

-60.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$34.12 OMR 13.13

-41.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.61 OMR 2.93

-23.92%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$4.88 OMR 1.88

-62.50%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$0.85 OMR 0.33

-8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$0.29 OMR 0.11

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$13.01 OMR 5.01

-82.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$13.14 OMR 5.06

-71.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$2.27 OMR 0.87

-10.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.28 OMR 0.49

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$1.83 OMR 0.70

-22.40%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$2.86 OMR 1.10

-23.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$7.47 OMR 2.88

112.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$6.70 OMR 2.58

-54.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$10.59 OMR 4.08

-6.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$3.51 OMR 1.35

-25.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-45.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$2.42 OMR 0.93

-32.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.19 OMR 0.46

28.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$1.21 OMR 0.47

2.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-8.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.62 OMR 0.24

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$6.32 OMR 2.43

-32.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$15.53 OMR 5.98

15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$5.43 OMR 2.09

-68.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$9.01 OMR 3.47

-67.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$3.19 OMR 1.23

-61.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-80.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$8.02 OMR 3.09

-70.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$0.61 OMR 0.23

136.07%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$25.2K OMR 9,695

-15.84%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.4K OMR 8,606

22.15%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$174 OMR 66.9

-62.62%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$30.45 OMR 11.72

-56.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$69.1 OMR 26.60

-69.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$10.37 OMR 3.99

-35.29%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$288 OMR 111

173.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$10.6K OMR 4,064

43.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$55.7 OMR 21.44

0.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$43.38 OMR 16.70

-42.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$89.5 OMR 34.47

3.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$97.3 OMR 37.44

-22.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$4,389 OMR 1,690

-86.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.25

6.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 625% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $284 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,401 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $934 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $288 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $934, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ar-rustaq. 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.