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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,025 in Jizan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,579 in Jizan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,133 in Jizan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Jizan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Jizan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Jizan 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.56 SAR 24.62

-70.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$26.79 SAR 101

-30.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.78 SAR 25.45

15.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.85

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.38 SAR 12.70

-42.31%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.70 SAR 2.63

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.20 SAR 0.73

75.00%

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

$1.70 SAR 6.39

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.01 SAR 3.78

61.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.97 SAR 7.40

-42.13%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.56 SAR 9.63

-24.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.18 SAR 26.96

125.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.86 SAR 21.98

-46.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.66 SAR 58.8

-30.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.75 SAR 6.56

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.45 SAR 5.46

-16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.70 SAR 6.37

-4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.23 SAR 4.61

29.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.06 SAR 3.96

32.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.05 SAR 3.93

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.12 SAR 4.20

-41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.51 SAR 1.91

3.92%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$7.02 SAR 26.34

-33.19%

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

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-17.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$40.41 SAR 152

-52.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$2.65 SAR 9.94

-46.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.89 SAR 7.10

-31.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.21 SAR 49.56

-40.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.63 SAR 2.35

101.59%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$27.0K SAR 101.4K

-21.27%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$22.0K SAR 82.4K

1.12%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$88.2 SAR 331

-21.72%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$36.72 SAR 138

-61.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$72.7 SAR 273

-75.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$87.8 SAR 329

-53.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$35.82 SAR 134

-80.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$15.46 SAR 58.0

-61.71%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$133 SAR 500

124.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,394 SAR 12.7K

340.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$29.70 SAR 111

84.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$46.25 SAR 174

-42.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$80.0 SAR 300

6.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$80.6 SAR 302

-12.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$322 SAR 1,208

33.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$225 SAR 844

5.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$496 SAR 1,862

61.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$481 SAR 1,807

7.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$795 SAR 2,984

148.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,620 SAR 6,079

-61.88%

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 Jizan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $322 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 run about 162% higher in Jizan, 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 $27.00 in Jizan. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Jizan – so Jizan 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 Jizan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jizan costs about 18% 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 $1,538 in Jizan. 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 $133 in Jizan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Jizan – 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 Jizan at $1,025. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jizan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,025 in Jizan. 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, Jizan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.