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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $673 in Khafji, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,071 in Khafji, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,470 in Khafji, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Khafji, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Khafji are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Khafji 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$3.11 SAR 11.69

-33.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$35.17 SAR 132

-44.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.10 SAR 19.14

11.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.99 SAR 11.24

-39.46%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.78 SAR 2.95

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.21 SAR 0.77

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.73 SAR 6.50

18.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.27 SAR 4.78

18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.92 SAR 7.22

-27.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.17 SAR 8.15

4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.63 SAR 28.66

112.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$7.66 SAR 28.76

-62.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.93 SAR 48.58

-27.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.22 SAR 8.32

20.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.73 SAR 6.49

-36.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.65 SAR 6.19

-1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.57 SAR 5.91

-7.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.09 SAR 4.08

17.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.20 SAR 4.51

-11.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.26 SAR 4.74

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.61 SAR 2.31

-13.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.10 SAR 15.42

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 SAR 8.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$7.66 SAR 28.78

-44.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-55.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$2.63 SAR 9.88

-77.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$13.11 SAR 49.26

-81.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.60 SAR 2.24

141.67%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$66.4K SAR 249.5K

-68.36%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$21.5K SAR 80.7K

22.98%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$131 SAR 491

-51.27%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$32.55 SAR 122

-60.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$62.1 SAR 233

-66.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$13.50 SAR 50.7

-51.26%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$131 SAR 492

498.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$4,026 SAR 15.1K

264.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$42.49 SAR 160

29.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$49.58 SAR 186

-50.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$97.9 SAR 368

-3.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$92.1 SAR 346

-19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$667 SAR 2,505

-26.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.9

-5.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Khafji: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $667 in Khafji. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Khafji. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Khafji – so Khafji 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 Khafji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Khafji, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,010 in Khafji. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Khafji, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $35.00 in Khafji. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Khafji, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Khafji it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khafji costs $673 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Khafji. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.