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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,647 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.28 OMR 2.03

-63.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$26.10 OMR 10.05

-28.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.00 OMR 3.08

-2.25%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.01 OMR 1.93

-61.08%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.50 OMR 0.19

70.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.27 OMR 0.10

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$12.54 OMR 4.83

-83.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$11.82 OMR 4.55

-68.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-13.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.24 OMR 0.48

31.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-31.74%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.88 OMR 0.72

2.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.86 OMR 1.48

319.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-25.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.87 OMR 3.03

38.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.30 OMR 0.89

19.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-27.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-11.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.12 OMR 0.43

41.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.03 OMR 0.40

35.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.03 OMR 0.40

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-39.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.51 OMR 0.20

3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.47 OMR 2.49

-27.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$15.89 OMR 6.12

17.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-57.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$7.71 OMR 2.97

-58.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.58 OMR 0.61

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.75 OMR 0.29

72.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$10.25 OMR 3.94

-23.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.61 OMR 0.23

108.20%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$22.5K OMR 8,645

-5.25%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.9K OMR 8,417

1.60%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$106 OMR 40.86

-34.92%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$40.96 OMR 15.77

-65.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$70.0 OMR 26.96

-74.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$2.58 OMR 0.99

169.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$10.32 OMR 3.97

-42.64%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$132 OMR 51.0

125.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,748 OMR 1,443

298.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$20.63 OMR 7.94

165.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.54 OMR 9.83

4.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$39.59 OMR 15.24

114.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$51.5 OMR 19.82

37.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$159 OMR 61.2

169.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$211 OMR 81.1

12.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$385 OMR 148

108.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$211 OMR 81.1

144.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-85.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

-2.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $159 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 612% higher in Ar-rustaq, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Ar-rustaq – so Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ar-rustaq is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,455 in Ar-rustaq. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $132 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $970 in Ar-rustaq, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ar-rustaq makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.