Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ha'il Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ha'il

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,013 in Ha'il, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,573 in Ha'il, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,132 in Ha'il, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Ha'il, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ha'il are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Ha'il 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.2

$5.32 SAR 19.99

-60.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿649

$37.12 SAR 139

-46.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$5.91 SAR 22.19

-1.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 SAR 7.68

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-34.57%

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

$0.74 ฿24.40

$0.61 SAR 2.30

21.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.91

$0.24 SAR 0.89

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.69 SAR 6.34

12.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.8

$0.87 SAR 3.27

91.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.30

$1.90 SAR 7.12

-28.95%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.88 SAR 7.05

13.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿522

$6.62 SAR 24.86

140.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿93.0

$8.56 SAR 32.12

-66.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿346

$8.54 SAR 32.06

23.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.3

$1.51 SAR 5.69

57.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$1.58 SAR 5.93

-32.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.85

$1.30 SAR 4.90

16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.36

$2.02 SAR 7.59

-25.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.01

$1.31 SAR 4.90

-2.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.22

$1.64 SAR 6.14

-32.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.57

$1.21 SAR 4.54

-42.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.20

$0.46 SAR 1.72

6.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.79 SAR 10.49

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 SAR 7.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$6.62 SAR 24.85

-35.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿551

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.48

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,804

$35.36 SAR 133

55.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.29

$3.00 SAR 11.25

-60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.80

$1.80 SAR 6.74

-70.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿78.0

$13.24 SAR 49.71

-82.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.94

$0.64 SAR 2.42

123.44%

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

$21.1K ฿692.4K

$46.1K SAR 173.2K

-54.31%

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

$27.1K ฿891.3K

$21.5K SAR 80.5K

26.48%

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

$64.7 ฿2,127

$53.5 SAR 201

21.08%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$21.47 SAR 80.6

-38.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿639

$47.52 SAR 178

-59.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,296

$65.7 SAR 246

-39.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$37.56 SAR 141

-89.96%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$14.81 SAR 55.6

-55.30%

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

$805 ฿26.5K

$340 SAR 1,276

136.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.7K

$6,585 SAR 24.7K

129.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,798

$50.4 SAR 189

8.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿835

$59.8 SAR 224

-57.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,019

$97.3 SAR 365

-5.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,452

$87.7 SAR 329

-14.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$236 SAR 885

97.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,262

$340 SAR 1,277

-17.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.3K

$367 SAR 1,377

142.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$541 SAR 2,031

-3.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.2K

$2,401 SAR 9,015

-17.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,399 SAR 5,253

4.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$1,089 SAR 4,087

-45.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.47

1.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ha'il: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $236 in Ha'il. 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 84% higher in Ha'il, 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 $37.00 in Ha'il. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $179 in Ha'il – so Ha'il 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 Ha'il: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ha'il costs about 10% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,519 in Ha'il. 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $340 in Ha'il. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Ha'il – 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 $920, than in Ha'il at $1,013. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ha'il it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $920 versus $1,013 in Ha'il. 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, Ha'il makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.