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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,235 in Buraydah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,064 in Buraydah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,893 in Buraydah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Buraydah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Buraydah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Buraydah 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$13.38 SAR 50.3

-84.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$40.45 SAR 152

-50.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$8.22 SAR 30.87

-29.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.13

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.58 SAR 13.45

-48.88%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.76 SAR 2.85

2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.26 SAR 0.96

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.64 SAR 6.17

23.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.15 SAR 4.30

39.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.47 SAR 9.27

-42.51%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.91 SAR 10.92

-25.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.54 SAR 32.07

86.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.61 SAR 24.83

-53.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$13.49 SAR 50.7

-26.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.31 SAR 8.69

13.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.84 SAR 6.89

-40.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.73 SAR 6.48

-5.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.40 SAR 5.27

-11.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-17.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.09 SAR 4.10

-32.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-18.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 SAR 5.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SAR 9.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$6.52 SAR 24.49

-34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$1.05 SAR 3.95

-10.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$35.26 SAR 132

56.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.71 SAR 10.17

-54.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-80.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$16.88 SAR 63.4

-85.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.59 SAR 2.22

144.07%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$41.4K SAR 155.6K

-48.86%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

17.64%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$71.7 SAR 269

-9.40%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$32.13 SAR 121

-58.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$71.0 SAR 266

-70.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$133 SAR 500

-69.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$36.59 SAR 137

-89.20%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$15.33 SAR 57.6

-56.23%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$266 SAR 999

195.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,788 SAR 14.2K

299.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$51.5 SAR 193

9.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$58.1 SAR 218

-57.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$79.7 SAR 299

16.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$70.1 SAR 263

7.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$694 SAR 2,607

-30.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$331 SAR 1,244

-13.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$886 SAR 3,328

2.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$820 SAR 3,081

-35.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,400 SAR 9,012

-17.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,394 SAR 5,236

4.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$2,506 SAR 9,410

-75.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.98

39.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Buraydah: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $694 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 314% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Buraydah. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $205 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 30% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,852 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 $950 in Chiang Mai and $1,235 in Buraydah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 57% 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 $950, than in Buraydah at $1,235. 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 $950 versus $1,235 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.