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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,332 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,029 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,725 in Dhahran, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Dhahran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Dhahran 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.23 SAR 19.64

-62.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$40.50 SAR 152

-53.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.14 SAR 26.78

9.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SAR 7.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.77 SAR 14.14

-48.28%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.74 SAR 2.78

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.17 SAR 0.63

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.49 SAR 5.60

14.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.17 SAR 4.39

39.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.18 SAR 8.18

-47.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.39 SAR 8.98

-19.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.83 SAR 25.62

137.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.84 SAR 33.18

-64.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.50 SAR 50.7

-19.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.24 SAR 8.41

22.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.38 SAR 5.20

-12.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.63 SAR 6.11

-0.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.37 SAR 5.13

16.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.23 SAR 4.63

13.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.89 SAR 3.34

31.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.10 SAR 4.14

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.57 SAR 2.15

-7.02%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.84 SAR 18.16

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.86

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$9.52 SAR 35.72

-50.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.05 SAR 3.93

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$40.72 SAR 153

-52.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.35 SAR 5.08

4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$2.45 SAR 9.18

-47.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.53 SAR 50.8

-42.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.65 SAR 2.43

95.38%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

-34.43%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

-8.48%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$104 SAR 391

-33.67%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$36.18 SAR 136

-61.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$73.6 SAR 276

-75.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$183 SAR 688

-77.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$36.00 SAR 135

-80.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$11.90 SAR 44.66

-50.25%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$414 SAR 1,553

-27.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

50.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$59.4 SAR 223

-7.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$76.7 SAR 288

-65.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$84.4 SAR 317

0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$97.8 SAR 367

-27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$439 SAR 1,648

-2.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$383 SAR 1,436

-37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$836 SAR 3,138

-4.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$615 SAR 2,308

-16.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,110 SAR 4,166

77.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,066 SAR 3,999

38.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

-78.66%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $439 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 369% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Dhahran. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $200 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 54% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,998 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $414 in Dhahran. 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 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 $866, than in Dhahran at $1,332. 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 $866 versus $1,332 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.