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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,227 in Dammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,878 in Dammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,530 in Dammam, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Dammam are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Dammam 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$6.59 SAR 24.74

-68.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$39.22 SAR 147

-49.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.95 SAR 29.87

-27.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 SAR 6.71

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.56 SAR 13.36

-48.60%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.80 SAR 3.00

-2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.28 SAR 1.04

10.71%

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 6.16

23.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.05 SAR 3.95

52.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.34 SAR 8.79

-39.32%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.46 SAR 9.23

-11.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.75 SAR 25.33

135.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$7.30 SAR 27.41

-57.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$13.01 SAR 48.85

-24.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.39 SAR 8.97

10.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.64 SAR 6.16

-32.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.64 SAR 6.16

-0.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.58 SAR 5.92

-3.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.23 SAR 4.63

0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.39 SAR 5.21

-18.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.30 SAR 4.87

-43.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.59 SAR 2.23

-15.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.94 SAR 11.04

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 SAR 7.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$7.39 SAR 27.75

-42.08%

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

$1.08 SAR 4.06

-12.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$40.25 SAR 151

37.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$2.68 SAR 10.08

-54.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.92 SAR 7.21

-72.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$13.44 SAR 50.5

-82.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.59 SAR 2.23

144.07%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$26.1K SAR 98.1K

-18.90%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$23.5K SAR 88.3K

16.10%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$106 SAR 397

-38.63%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$33.13 SAR 124

-59.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$70.4 SAR 264

-70.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$95.6 SAR 359

-57.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$36.61 SAR 138

-89.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$14.31 SAR 53.8

-53.11%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$349 SAR 1,310

125.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,538 SAR 28.3K

100.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$56.2 SAR 211

0.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$64.5 SAR 242

-61.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$85.1 SAR 319

8.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$82.0 SAR 308

-8.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$438 SAR 1,646

10.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$384 SAR 1,441

-25.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$884 SAR 3,321

2.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$633 SAR 2,379

-16.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,731 SAR 6,502

14.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,102 SAR 4,139

31.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.42

26.02%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Dammam: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $438 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Dammam. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $197 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 29% 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 $1,840 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $349 in Dammam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% 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 $950, than in Dammam at $1,227. 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 $950 versus $1,227 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.