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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,080 in Qatif, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,638 in Qatif, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,196 in Qatif, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Qatif, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Qatif are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Qatif 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.56 SAR 13.38

-41.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$35.17 SAR 132

-44.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.67 SAR 25.07

-14.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.95 SAR 11.07

-38.64%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.73 SAR 2.73

5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.15 SAR 0.58

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.76 SAR 6.61

16.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.94 SAR 3.53

60.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.95 SAR 7.31

-28.21%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.11 SAR 7.93

7.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.70 SAR 21.42

184.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$7.80 SAR 29.31

-62.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.98 SAR 48.76

-27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.18 SAR 8.20

22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-36.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.59 SAR 5.96

1.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.64 SAR 2.39

128.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.12 SAR 4.21

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-3.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.91 SAR 3.41

-20.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.50 SAR 1.89

6.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.62 SAR 24.85

-36.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$36.12 SAR 136

48.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.36 SAR 8.86

-50.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.51 SAR 1.92

13.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$13.10 SAR 49.20

-81.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.61 SAR 2.30

137.70%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$35.8K SAR 134.6K

-41.37%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$20.8K SAR 78.2K

26.91%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$103 SAR 388

-38.35%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$33.42 SAR 126

-61.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$58.3 SAR 219

-64.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$82.7 SAR 311

-52.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$37.55 SAR 141

-89.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$13.21 SAR 49.60

-50.19%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$270 SAR 1,015

189.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$7,795 SAR 29.3K

88.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$31.48 SAR 118

75.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$20.90 SAR 78.5

18.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$94.6 SAR 355

-0.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$90.4 SAR 340

-18.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$574 SAR 2,157

-14.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$346 SAR 1,298

-16.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$873 SAR 3,281

2.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$547 SAR 2,055

-4.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$951 SAR 3,573

107.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$783 SAR 2,942

84.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$2,249 SAR 8,448

-73.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.5

1.27%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Qatif: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $574 in Qatif. 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 274% higher in Qatif, 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 $35.00 in Qatif. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $184 in Qatif – so Qatif 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 Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif costs about 16% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,620 in Qatif. 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 $270 in Qatif. 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 Qatif – 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 Qatif at $1,080. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Qatif it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,080 in Qatif. 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, Qatif makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.