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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,184 in Najran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,826 in Najran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,468 in Najran, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Najran, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Najran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Najran 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$8.10 SAR 30.42

-74.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$36.98 SAR 139

-46.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.57 SAR 32.21

-33.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$4.28 SAR 16.08

-57.71%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.78 SAR 2.92

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.30 SAR 1.11

16.67%

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

$2.61 SAR 9.79

-21.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.16 SAR 4.36

30.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.14 SAR 8.03

-34.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.42 SAR 9.09

-6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.44 SAR 27.95

117.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.08 SAR 22.83

-52.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.38 SAR 54.0

-34.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.07 SAR 7.79

29.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.68 SAR 6.32

-35.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.61 SAR 6.04

0.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.66 SAR 6.25

-12.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.13 SAR 4.24

13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.31 SAR 4.93

-19.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-47.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-17.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.73 SAR 10.24

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 SAR 8.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.70 SAR 25.16

-36.87%

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

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$36.42 SAR 137

47.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$3.00 SAR 11.27

-61.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$1.75 SAR 6.58

-66.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-82.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.50 SAR 1.86

190.00%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$45.4K SAR 170.7K

-53.76%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$21.5K SAR 80.8K

22.85%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$99.8 SAR 375

-36.20%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$32.08 SAR 120

-59.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$67.0 SAR 252

-69.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$83.9 SAR 315

-53.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$37.65 SAR 141

-89.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$13.52 SAR 50.8

-51.33%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$346 SAR 1,298

126.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$6,731 SAR 25.3K

117.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$50.0 SAR 188

10.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$57.2 SAR 215

-56.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$96.7 SAR 363

-2.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$90.0 SAR 338

-17.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$585 SAR 2,196

-16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$345 SAR 1,294

-16.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$894 SAR 3,359

-0.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$551 SAR 2,070

-5.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,403 SAR 9,025

-17.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,387 SAR 5,209

4.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,703 SAR 6,398

-64.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.47

1.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Najran: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $585 in Najran. 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 183% higher in Najran, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Najran. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Najran – so Najran 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 Najran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Najran costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,776 in Najran. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $346 in Najran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Najran – 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 $932, than in Najran at $1,184. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Najran it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,184 in Najran. 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, Najran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.