Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sa'dah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sa'dah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Chiang Mai vs $763 in Sa'dah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,188 in Sa'dah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,612 in Sa'dah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Sa'dah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Sa'dah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sa'dah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿70.6

$6.48 YER 1,531

-67.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 ฿645

$25.52 YER 6,026

-24.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$9.46 YER 2,233

-42.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 YER 475

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 YER 615

Cappuccino

$1.69 ฿56.6

$3.70 YER 873

-54.32%

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

$0.65 ฿21.71

$1.12 YER 264

-41.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.65 YER 153

-52.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿77.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 ฿131

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$2.08 YER 490

-0.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ฿51.4

$1.63 YER 384

-6.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 ฿41.93

$2.06 YER 486

-39.32%

Eggs

$2.19 ฿73.6

$3.68 YER 869

-40.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.94 ฿535

$17.32 YER 4,090

-7.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.7

$8.34 YER 1,969

-66.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ฿327

$19.04 YER 4,496

-48.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 ฿89.1

$3.25 YER 768

-18.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ฿35.32

$1.01 YER 239

3.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.6

$2.14 YER 505

-22.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ฿49.49

$1.67 YER 394

-11.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.73

$1.47 YER 346

-17.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.95

$1.37 YER 323

-19.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.50

$1.21 YER 286

-37.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.66

$0.68 YER 161

-26.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.37 YER 795

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 YER 444

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 YER 809

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$5.39 YER 1,272

-18.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.50 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.7 ฿1,803

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿40.87

$4.10 YER 969

-70.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.80

$2.10 YER 495

-73.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 ฿78.6

$7.29 YER 1,722

-67.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.57

$2.12 YER 501

-31.60%

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

$21.1K ฿706.4K

$16.7K YER 3.9M

26.10%

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

$26.3K ฿882.3K

$34.9K YER 8.2M

-24.69%

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

$63.6 ฿2,133

$106 YER 25.0K

-39.98%

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

$12.56 ฿422

$23.16 YER 5,467

-45.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.04 ฿672

$102 YER 24.1K

-80.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.80 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ฿217

$5.89 YER 1,390

9.85%

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

$777 ฿26.1K

$118 YER 27.8K

560.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿489.1K

$2,174 YER 513.2K

570.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 ฿1,853

$42.97 YER 10.1K

28.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.77 ฿831

$122 YER 28.9K

-79.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 ฿3,029

$46.99 YER 11.1K

92.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,467

$41.49 YER 9,795

77.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 ฿15.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 ฿9,601

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$866 ฿29.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 ฿17.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,978 ฿66.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$581 ฿19.5K

$312 YER 73.7K

86.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.25

-50.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

Last update for Sa'dah: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 86% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $26.00 in Sa'dah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $270 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sa'dah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 21% more than Sa'dah, 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,145 in Sa'dah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Sa'dah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sa'dah, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Chiang Mai at $926. In Sa'dah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sa'dah costs $763 versus $926 in Chiang Mai. 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 Sa'dah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.