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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,233 in Dammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,851 in Dammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,468 in Dammam, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 31% cheaper than Dammam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Dammam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Dammam 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.2

$6.69 SAR 25.10

-69.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿629

$39.71 SAR 149

-52.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿263

$7.93 SAR 29.74

-1.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 SAR 6.61

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SAR 6.60

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.7

$3.76 SAR 14.12

-48.67%

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

$0.83 ฿27.92

$0.81 SAR 3.06

2.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.77

$0.28 SAR 1.05

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.3

$1.62 SAR 6.10

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.1

$1.01 SAR 3.79

53.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$2.27 SAR 8.52

-48.02%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.7

$2.55 SAR 9.57

-21.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿543

$6.93 SAR 26.02

133.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$7.44 SAR 27.91

-59.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿364

$13.11 SAR 49.20

-17.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$2.34 SAR 8.79

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.03

$1.69 SAR 6.35

-27.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.6

$1.64 SAR 6.14

-0.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.3

$1.57 SAR 5.89

-2.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.24 SAR 4.64

8.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.75

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-11.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.57

$1.34 SAR 5.04

-47.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.65

$0.63 SAR 2.36

-15.87%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.83

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.81

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿157

$7.03 SAR 26.39

-33.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.93

$1.06 SAR 3.98

-16.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿630

$40.58 SAR 152

-53.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.27

$2.60 SAR 9.74

-45.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.40

$1.86 SAR 6.97

-30.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$13.17 SAR 49.43

-40.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.47

$0.63 SAR 2.37

104.76%

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

$21.8K ฿731.4K

$26.8K SAR 100.6K

-18.77%

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

$21.7K ฿728.8K

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

-7.38%

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

$70.0 ฿2,351

$103 SAR 386

-31.96%

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

$14.19 ฿477

$34.12 SAR 128

-58.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿585

$71.3 SAR 268

-75.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,399

$95.3 SAR 358

-56.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿231

$35.74 SAR 134

-80.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿194

$14.63 SAR 54.9

-60.49%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$347 SAR 1,303

-13.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿487.9K

$7,443 SAR 27.9K

95.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,860

$54.8 SAR 206

0.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿884

$64.0 SAR 240

-58.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,851

$83.8 SAR 314

1.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,368

$80.8 SAR 303

-12.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$445 SAR 1,670

-4.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,898

$380 SAR 1,427

-38.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$881 SAR 3,304

-8.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.3K

$617 SAR 2,314

-16.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.7K

$1,773 SAR 6,655

8.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.7K

$1,092 SAR 4,099

32.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.7K

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 20, 2026

Last update for Dammam: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $445 in Dammam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Dammam. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Dammam – so Dammam 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 Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dammam costs about 45% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,849 in Dammam. 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.

Kindergarten costs $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $347 in Dammam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Dammam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Dammam at $1,233. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dammam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,233 in Dammam. 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, Dammam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.