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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,224 in Buraydah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,996 in Buraydah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,768 in Buraydah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Buraydah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Buraydah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Buraydah 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$12.49 SAR 46.89

-84.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$39.47 SAR 148

-53.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.46 SAR 28.02

0.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 SAR 5.68

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.67 SAR 13.78

-44.96%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.80 SAR 3.00

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.26 SAR 0.96

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.65 SAR 6.21

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.05 SAR 3.93

49.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.58 SAR 9.70

-53.88%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.52 SAR 9.47

-23.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.45 SAR 31.74

91.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.68 SAR 25.08

-55.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.72 SAR 51.5

-20.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.47 SAR 9.28

9.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.86 SAR 6.99

-37.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.40 SAR 5.25

20.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.67 SAR 6.26

-4.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.41 SAR 5.31

-2.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.50 SAR 5.64

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.12 SAR 4.19

-40.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.70 SAR 2.63

-20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 SAR 7.15

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.22 SAR 23.36

-25.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$1.05 SAR 3.95

-16.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$39.96 SAR 150

-51.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.58 SAR 9.70

-47.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.86 SAR 6.97

-27.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$16.68 SAR 62.6

-50.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.60 SAR 2.25

103.33%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$26.3K SAR 98.7K

-18.80%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$24.6K SAR 92.5K

-8.51%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$75.8 SAR 285

-6.79%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$29.83 SAR 112

-52.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$71.4 SAR 268

-75.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$102 SAR 382

-58.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$35.02 SAR 131

-80.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$15.81 SAR 59.4

-62.56%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$264 SAR 989

17.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,690 SAR 13.9K

303.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$50.7 SAR 191

9.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$73.5 SAR 276

-64.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$80.7 SAR 303

2.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$71.1 SAR 267

-0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$626 SAR 2,349

-30.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$338 SAR 1,267

-29.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$767 SAR 2,879

7.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$810 SAR 3,042

-36.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,385 SAR 8,956

-19.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,332 SAR 5,003

10.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$2,488 SAR 9,344

-76.72%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Buraydah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $626 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 329% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Buraydah. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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 42% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,836 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $1,224 in Buraydah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 107% 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 $861, than in Buraydah at $1,224. 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 $861 versus $1,224 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.