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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 37.9% cheaper than Ruwais without rent, and 47.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 24.2% cheaper than Ruwais without rent, and 44.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$6.63 AED 24.33
-69.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$38.08 AED 140
-50.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$7.76 AED 28.5
-1.16%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$4.68 AED 17.2
-57.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.79 AED 2.91
3.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.35 AED 1.28
-5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$10.49 AED 38.52
-79.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$9.43 AED 34.64
-60.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.8 AED 6.6
-8.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.48 AED 5.45
6.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.91 AED 7.01
-37.70%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$3.19 AED 11.73
-37.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$2.76 AED 10.14
479.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$7.56 AED 27.75
-58.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$6.68 AED 24.53
67.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.96 AED 10.88
-6.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.6 AED 5.86
-23.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.38 AED 5.08
23.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.86 AED 3.15
80.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.71 AED 2.61
88.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.43 AED 1.58
181.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.65 AED 6.05
-56.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.62 AED 2.29
-14.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$6.63 AED 24.36
-28.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.8 AED 50.7
33.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.38 AED 5.07
29.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.71 AED 9.95
18.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.59 AED 5.84
-40.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$52.7 AED 193
-64.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.65 AED 9.73
-46.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.66 AED 2.44
104.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$8.13 AED 29.87
-3.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.76 AED 2.78
64.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$44.9K AED 164.9K
-52.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.7K AED 83.5K
-3.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$89.7 AED 329
-21.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$52.6 AED 193
-73.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$97.4 AED 358
-81.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$64.1 AED 235
-35.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$38.8 AED 142
-82.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$11.23 AED 41.25
-48.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$601 AED 2,206
-48.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$3,800 AED 14K
286.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$21.72 AED 79.8
155.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$80.9 AED 297
-67.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$78.2 AED 287
8.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$54.9 AED 202
30.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$761 AED 2,793
-42.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$749 AED 2,749
-68.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,555 AED 9,384
-67.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,342 AED 4,928
-62.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$5,064 AED 18.6K
-56.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$3,027 AED 11.1K
-49.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ruwais
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$2,741 AED 10.1K
-74.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
4.71
6.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ruwais: October 29, 2025

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