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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,346 in Qairawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,219 in Qairawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,092 in Qairawan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Qairawan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Qairawan is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.69 KWD 2.36

-74.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$58.5 KWD 17.93

-68.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.61 KWD 2.64

-9.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 KWD 0.75

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 KWD 1.04

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.47 KWD 1.68

-64.35%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.63 KWD 0.19

34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.33 KWD 0.10

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.47 KWD 0.45

16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.05 KWD 0.32

55.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.73 KWD 0.53

-34.10%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.07 KWD 0.63

-6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.38 KWD 1.34

270.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.45 KWD 1.98

-51.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.73 KWD 2.98

12.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.32 KWD 0.71

18.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-25.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.57 KWD 0.48

3.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.43 KWD 0.44

11.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.22 KWD 0.37

14.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.14 KWD 0.35

2.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.61 KWD 0.49

-59.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.46 KWD 0.14

15.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.97 KWD 0.91

57.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.83 KWD 0.25

8.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$44.71 KWD 13.71

-57.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.23 KWD 0.99

-56.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.18 KWD 0.98

-59.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$16.16 KWD 4.96

-51.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.37 KWD 0.11

243.24%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$20.5K KWD 6,273

4.03%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$19.4K KWD 5,961

14.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$61.8 KWD 18.96

11.75%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.26 KWD 5.60

-22.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$25.69 KWD 7.88

-29.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$95.5 KWD 29.30

-57.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$46.91 KWD 14.39

-85.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$11.22 KWD 3.44

-47.24%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$281 KWD 86.2

6.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,152 KWD 1,887

143.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$41.94 KWD 12.86

30.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$43.22 KWD 13.25

-38.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$88.6 KWD 27.17

-4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$83.0 KWD 25.45

-14.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$808 KWD 248

-46.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$621 KWD 190

-61.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,544 KWD 473

-48.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,300 KWD 399

-60.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

-29.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Qairawan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $808 in Qairawan. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $58.0 in Qairawan. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $168 in Qairawan – so Qairawan 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 Qairawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qairawan costs about 55% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,019 in Qairawan. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $281 in Qairawan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Qairawan – 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 $866, than in Qairawan at $1,346. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Qairawan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,346 in Qairawan. 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, Qairawan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.