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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,185 in Buraydah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,980 in Buraydah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,775 in Buraydah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Buraydah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Buraydah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Buraydah 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$12.73 SAR 47.78

-84.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$39.83 SAR 150

-53.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.43 SAR 27.87

5.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.58

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.69 SAR 13.86

-47.15%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.74 SAR 2.76

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.26 SAR 0.97

34.62%

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

$1.66 SAR 6.24

3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.09 SAR 4.10

49.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.58 SAR 9.68

-55.81%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.53 SAR 9.51

-23.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.23 SAR 30.90

96.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.66 SAR 25.00

-53.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.67 SAR 51.3

-20.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.46 SAR 9.22

11.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.86 SAR 6.98

-34.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.45 SAR 5.43

11.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.67 SAR 6.25

-4.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.42 SAR 5.34

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.50 SAR 5.62

-22.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.12 SAR 4.20

-41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.65 SAR 2.44

-18.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 SAR 5.47

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SAR 9.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.25 SAR 23.46

-24.96%

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

$1.04 SAR 3.90

-13.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$39.65 SAR 149

-51.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.69 SAR 10.09

-47.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.85 SAR 6.94

-30.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$16.87 SAR 63.3

-53.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.59 SAR 2.23

115.25%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$26.8K SAR 100.5K

-20.57%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.2K SAR 90.8K

-8.17%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$75.8 SAR 284

-8.84%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$29.84 SAR 112

-52.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$69.7 SAR 262

-74.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$102 SAR 383

-59.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$34.97 SAR 131

-80.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$16.24 SAR 60.9

-63.55%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$262 SAR 984

14.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,720 SAR 14.0K

301.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$51.6 SAR 194

6.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$74.5 SAR 279

-64.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$81.8 SAR 307

3.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$69.9 SAR 262

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$634 SAR 2,379

-32.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$338 SAR 1,267

-29.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$749 SAR 2,812

6.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$808 SAR 3,033

-36.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,323 SAR 8,717

-14.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,329 SAR 4,988

10.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$2,826 SAR 10.6K

-78.15%

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 Buraydah: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $634 in Buraydah. 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 358% higher in Buraydah, 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 $40.00 in Buraydah. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Buraydah – so Buraydah 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 Buraydah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buraydah costs about 37% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,777 in Buraydah. 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 $1,185 in Buraydah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 106% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Buraydah at $1,185. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buraydah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,185 in Buraydah. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Buraydah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.