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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,188 in Khafji, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,830 in Khafji, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,471 in Khafji, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Khafji, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Khafji are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Khafji 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$3.11 SAR 11.68

-36.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$52.9 SAR 198

-65.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$4.92 SAR 18.46

59.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 SAR 3.60

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.87

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$2.91 SAR 10.91

-32.99%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.90 SAR 3.37

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.38 SAR 1.41

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.70 SAR 6.36

-2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$1.45 SAR 5.46

7.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$2.08 SAR 7.81

-42.79%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-10.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$6.12 SAR 22.96

165.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$7.24 SAR 27.16

-56.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$9.91 SAR 37.20

9.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$2.21 SAR 8.30

19.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.48 SAR 5.56

-17.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$1.44 SAR 5.41

14.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.67 SAR 6.28

-7.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.24 SAR 4.64

7.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-10.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$1.36 SAR 5.09

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.55 SAR 2.05

3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.26 SAR 16.00

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 SAR 7.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$8.00 SAR 30.03

-41.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$1.08 SAR 4.07

-15.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$40.21 SAR 151

-53.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$3.40 SAR 12.76

-58.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$1.91 SAR 7.18

-29.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$13.06 SAR 49.02

-37.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$0.65 SAR 2.43

96.92%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

-2.66%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$21.0K SAR 78.6K

6.92%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$117 SAR 439

-39.79%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$38.34 SAR 144

-63.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$61.8 SAR 232

-71.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$89.5 SAR 336

-53.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$35.17 SAR 132

-80.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$15.39 SAR 57.7

-61.27%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$136 SAR 509

123.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$3,931 SAR 14.8K

280.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$68.4 SAR 257

-20.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$67.2 SAR 252

-60.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$91.2 SAR 342

-5.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$85.0 SAR 319

-17.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$444 SAR 1,667

-3.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$376 SAR 1,410

-36.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$836 SAR 3,139

-3.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$617 SAR 2,317

-17.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$2,454 SAR 9,208

-17.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$1,365 SAR 5,124

10.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

15.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Khafji: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $444 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Khafji. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $185 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

Khafji costs about 40% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,783 in Khafji. 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 $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $136 in Khafji. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Khafji – 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 $848, than in Khafji at $1,188. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Khafji it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,188 in Khafji. 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, Khafji makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.