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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,024 in Ha'il, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,474 in Ha'il, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,925 in Ha'il, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Ha'il, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ha'il are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ha'il 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$6.83 SAR 25.60

-71.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$25.28 SAR 94.8

-25.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.19 SAR 26.97

10.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 SAR 8.17

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-41.95%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.04 SAR 3.92

-19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.32 SAR 1.20

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.84 SAR 3.17

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.83 SAR 6.85

-35.52%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.97 SAR 7.40

2.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.67 SAR 25.03

138.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$8.91 SAR 33.42

-66.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.23 SAR 30.85

30.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.56 SAR 5.85

67.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.50 SAR 5.62

-18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.30 SAR 4.86

30.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.96 SAR 7.34

-19.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.31 SAR 4.90

0.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.63 SAR 6.13

-28.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.06 SAR 3.96

-36.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.48 SAR 1.82

16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.57 SAR 9.65

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 SAR 7.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$7.20 SAR 26.98

-37.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-14.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$39.36 SAR 148

-50.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.69 SAR 10.08

-49.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.90 SAR 7.11

-28.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$13.46 SAR 50.5

-38.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.63 SAR 2.36

101.59%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$26.6K SAR 99.6K

-20.32%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$22.1K SAR 82.9K

1.74%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$52.5 SAR 197

33.70%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$21.05 SAR 78.9

-34.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$47.26 SAR 177

-62.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$67.0 SAR 251

-37.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$35.14 SAR 132

-81.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$14.69 SAR 55.1

-60.65%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$360 SAR 1,350

-14.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,874 SAR 25.8K

115.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$60.3 SAR 226

-9.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$61.3 SAR 230

-57.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$78.1 SAR 293

8.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$83.1 SAR 311

-16.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$483 SAR 1,813

-12.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$329 SAR 1,234

-27.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$448 SAR 1,680

84.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$356 SAR 1,337

44.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,369 SAR 8,883

-13.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,314 SAR 4,926

15.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,052 SAR 3,944

-39.61%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ha'il: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $483 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 66% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Ha'il. Groceries tell a different story – $243 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 20% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,536 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $360 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 36% 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 $852, than in Ha'il at $1,024. 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 $852 versus $1,024 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.