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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,056 in Najran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,657 in Najran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,259 in Najran, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Najran, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Najran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Najran 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$8.08 SAR 30.30

-75.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$22.81 SAR 85.5

-17.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.70 SAR 32.62

-8.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.85

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$4.39 SAR 16.47

-56.49%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.79 SAR 2.94

6.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.26 SAR 0.97

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.33 SAR 8.72

-29.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.94 SAR 3.51

72.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.31 SAR 8.64

-48.92%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.11 SAR 7.90

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.82 SAR 25.59

132.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.88 SAR 22.03

-48.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$14.81 SAR 55.5

-27.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.75 SAR 6.58

49.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.06 SAR 7.71

-40.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.69 SAR 6.34

0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.60 SAR 6.01

-1.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.28 SAR 4.81

3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.27 SAR 4.78

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.36 SAR 5.10

-50.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.66 SAR 2.46

-15.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.80

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 SAR 7.52

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$8.16 SAR 30.60

-44.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.09 SAR 4.07

-18.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$40.24 SAR 151

-51.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.72 SAR 10.20

-50.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.89 SAR 7.07

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$13.51 SAR 50.7

-38.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.57 SAR 2.14

122.81%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$26.2K SAR 98.4K

-19.38%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$22.2K SAR 83.4K

1.12%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$106 SAR 399

-34.03%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$33.82 SAR 127

-59.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$72.6 SAR 272

-75.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$87.6 SAR 329

-52.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$35.23 SAR 132

-81.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$15.87 SAR 59.5

-63.58%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$355 SAR 1,333

-13.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,854 SAR 25.7K

116.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$58.7 SAR 220

-7.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$59.4 SAR 223

-55.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$78.6 SAR 295

7.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$80.3 SAR 301

-13.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$333 SAR 1,249

27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$197 SAR 738

20.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$607 SAR 2,276

35.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$419 SAR 1,572

22.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,391 SAR 8,967

-14.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,316 SAR 4,935

15.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,714 SAR 6,429

-62.95%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Najran: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $333 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 170% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Najran. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $200 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 24% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,584 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $355 in Najran. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% 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 $852, than in Najran at $1,056. 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 $852 versus $1,056 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.