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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,457 in Medina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,845 in Medina, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,232 in Medina, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 40% cheaper than Medina, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Medina is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.46 SAR 20.50

-63.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$32.16 SAR 121

-41.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.89 SAR 29.60

-1.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.63

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.43 SAR 9.12

-20.99%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.76 SAR 2.86

3.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.39 SAR 1.44

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.63 SAR 6.13

1.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.91 SAR 3.40

79.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.29 SAR 8.59

-48.03%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.04 SAR 7.67

-1.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.52 SAR 24.45

145.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-58.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$12.80 SAR 48.04

-15.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.41 SAR 9.05

14.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.14 SAR 8.05

-44.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.14 SAR 8.05

-23.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.64 SAR 6.17

-7.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.36 SAR 5.12

1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.44 SAR 5.39

-17.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.99 SAR 3.71

-29.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.84 SAR 3.14

-33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 SAR 6.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$7.56 SAR 28.37

-39.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.09 SAR 4.10

-19.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$37.91 SAR 142

-50.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.31 SAR 4.90

3.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.71 SAR 6.42

-21.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.46 SAR 20.50

43.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.64 SAR 2.39

92.19%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

2.24%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

5.27%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$201 SAR 755

-64.92%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$32.95 SAR 124

-58.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$102 SAR 382

-82.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$77.5 SAR 291

-46.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.95 SAR 33.59

-22.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$13.56 SAR 50.9

-57.45%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$287 SAR 1,078

6.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,365 SAR 27.6K

98.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$36.93 SAR 139

51.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$52.3 SAR 196

-49.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$67.3 SAR 253

27.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$96.6 SAR 362

-25.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$434 SAR 1,627

-0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$563 SAR 2,114

-57.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$726 SAR 2,723

12.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$418 SAR 1,569

22.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,279 SAR 8,553

-12.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,336 SAR 5,013

11.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$1,321 SAR 4,957

-53.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medina: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $434 in Medina. 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 113% higher in Medina, 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 $32.00 in Medina. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Medina – so Medina 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 Medina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medina costs about 68% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,186 in Medina. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $287 in Medina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Medina – 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 $869, than in Medina at $1,457. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,457 in Medina. 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, Medina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.