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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,303 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,663 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,024 in Dhahran, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Dhahran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Dhahran 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$5.39 SAR 20.22

-61.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$39.25 SAR 147

-49.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.37 SAR 23.92

-9.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.95 SAR 14.84

-53.67%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.73 SAR 2.75

6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.15 SAR 0.58

106.67%

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

$1.02 SAR 3.82

56.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.93 SAR 7.26

-26.42%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.81 SAR 14.30

-42.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.58 SAR 32.21

85.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$11.12 SAR 41.77

-72.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$13.59 SAR 51.1

-27.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.09 SAR 7.86

25.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.41 SAR 5.28

-21.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.82 SAR 6.85

-10.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.75 SAR 6.58

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.55 SAR 5.84

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.95 SAR 3.56

18.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.94 SAR 7.27

-61.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.92 SAR 3.47

-45.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.67 SAR 17.55

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.71 SAR 21.43

-25.04%

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

$0.83 SAR 3.13

13.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.35 SAR 5.07

-8.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$3.41 SAR 12.80

-84.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$9.35 SAR 35.12

-74.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.64 SAR 2.41

125.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$51.9K SAR 194.9K

-59.17%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$20.8K SAR 78.0K

31.54%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$59.7 SAR 224

8.74%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$42.29 SAR 159

-68.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$66.7 SAR 251

-68.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$197 SAR 741

-79.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$91.5 SAR 344

-95.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$10.51 SAR 39.48

-36.16%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$67.6 SAR 254

1064.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$13.5K SAR 50.9K

11.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$50.5 SAR 190

11.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$43.25 SAR 162

-42.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$75.1 SAR 282

23.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$90.0 SAR 338

-16.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$361 SAR 1,357

33.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$460 SAR 1,728

-37.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$2,813 SAR 10.6K

-78.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.5

23.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $361 in Dhahran. 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 365% higher in Dhahran, 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 $39.00 in Dhahran. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Dhahran – so Dhahran 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 Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhahran costs about 37% 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 $1,954 in Dhahran. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Dhahran. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Dhahran – 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 Dhahran at $1,303. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dhahran it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,303 in Dhahran. 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, Dhahran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.