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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,202 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,858 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,514 in Jeddah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Jeddah 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.54 SAR 24.53

-70.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$40.72 SAR 153

-54.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-4.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.58 SAR 13.45

-45.53%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.70 SAR 2.64

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.25 SAR 0.94

40.00%

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

$1.74 SAR 6.51

-1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.96 SAR 3.58

69.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.30 SAR 8.61

-50.43%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.75 SAR 10.34

-29.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.41 SAR 27.83

118.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.64 SAR 28.69

-59.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.34 SAR 46.33

-11.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.16 SAR 8.13

27.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.57 SAR 5.90

-22.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.55 SAR 5.82

4.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.54 SAR 5.78

3.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.32 SAR 4.94

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.21 SAR 4.54

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.05 SAR 3.96

-37.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.60 SAR 2.23

-11.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.76 SAR 25.37

-30.62%

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

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$39.64 SAR 149

-51.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.23 SAR 12.13

-56.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-31.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$15.36 SAR 57.7

-48.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.63 SAR 2.37

101.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

-20.95%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

3.69%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$105 SAR 393

-34.11%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$32.31 SAR 121

-56.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$70.1 SAR 263

-74.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$90.9 SAR 341

-54.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$45.17 SAR 170

-84.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.12 SAR 49.26

-54.88%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$400 SAR 1,500

-25.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

133.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$64.6 SAR 242

-15.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$58.1 SAR 218

-53.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$92.5 SAR 347

-8.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$84.4 SAR 317

-16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$501 SAR 1,881

-14.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$390 SAR 1,464

-39.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$899 SAR 3,375

-10.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$618 SAR 2,321

-16.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,625 SAR 6,100

21.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,014 SAR 3,805

45.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,657 SAR 6,219

-62.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $501 in Jeddah. 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 168% higher in Jeddah, 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 Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Jeddah – so Jeddah 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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeddah costs about 39% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,803 in Jeddah. 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 $400 in Jeddah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Jeddah – 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 Jeddah at $1,202. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,202 in Jeddah. 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, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.