Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Jizan

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Jizan: $935 and $928 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Jizan, Saudi Arabia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Jizan
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$928
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Jizan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Jizan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $928 in Jizan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Jizan $928

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,525 in Jizan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Jizan $1,525

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,122 in Jizan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Jizan $2,122

Chiang Mai and Jizan have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$5.34 SAR 20.04
-60.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿623
$37.65 SAR 141
-50.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿187
$7.17 SAR 26.91
-21.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.70 SAR 6.39
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.90 SAR 7.15
-
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$3.13 SAR 11.75
-46.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.63
$0.75 SAR 2.80
-13.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.20
$0.28 SAR 1.05
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.4
$1.67 SAR 6.25
20.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.08
$0.98 SAR 3.69
43.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.54
$2.14 SAR 8.05
-35.05%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.2
$2.96 SAR 11.11
-19.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿552
$7.79 SAR 29.22
112.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.3
$5.21 SAR 19.54
-48.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
$14.50 SAR 54.4
-37.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.2
$1.85 SAR 6.96
29.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.82
$1.57 SAR 5.89
-33.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.5
$2.12 SAR 7.96
-21.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.1
$1.48 SAR 5.56
5.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.39
$1.34 SAR 5.03
-7.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.34
$1.47 SAR 5.52
-25.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.47
$1.28 SAR 4.79
-40.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.19
$0.75 SAR 2.81
-32.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.64 SAR 6.14
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 SAR 6.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 SAR 6.08
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$6.62 SAR 24.86
-37.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿600
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.4
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.25
$1.09 SAR 4.08
-14.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,769
$22.84 SAR 85.7
131.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.35
$2.69 SAR 10.10
-56.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.73
$3.41 SAR 12.78
-95.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.6
$16.10 SAR 60.4
-88.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.25
$0.65 SAR 2.44
126.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.6K
$43.1K SAR 161.8K
-51.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.7K
$17.2K SAR 64.6K
54.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,092
$105 SAR 395
-40.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿388
$36.04 SAR 135
-67.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿679
$63.7 SAR 239
-68.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,267
$97.1 SAR 364
-60.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
$37.39 SAR 140
-90.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$15.78 SAR 59.2
-58.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.3K
$202 SAR 758
260.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿554.2K
$4,059 SAR 15.2K
308.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,790
$33.36 SAR 125
60.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿829
$55.5 SAR 208
-55.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,023
$120 SAR 450
-24.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,407
$47.35 SAR 178
52.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
$270 SAR 1,013
78.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$131 SAR 492
136.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.4K
$484 SAR 1,817
118.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.0K
$353 SAR 1,325
86.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿80.8K
$796 SAR 2,986
203.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jizan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$1,609 SAR 6,039
-63.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5
11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Jizan: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Jizan
$131 57.7% $179
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Jizan
$195 17.4% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Jizan
$115 6.3% $6.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Jizan
$205 117% $110
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Jizan
$106 38.3% $29
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Jizan
$47 20% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Jizan
$129 153% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $270 in Jizan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Jizan are about 2.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $38 in Jizan. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Jizan – so Jizan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇦 Jizan
🕒 Local time
23:50 11:50 PM
19:50 7:50 PM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
127,743
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Jizan 5,950 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Jizan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Jizan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Jizan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,392 in Jizan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Jizan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jizan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $270 there versus $481 in Chiang Mai.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Jizan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $38 in Jizan. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Jizan?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Jizan?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $928 in Jizan. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Jizan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Jizan?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?