Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sabah Al Salem

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 16.6% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem without rent, and 35% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 15.4% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem without rent, and 40.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$7.63 KWD 2.35
-73.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$59.4 KWD 18.31
-69.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$8.34 KWD 2.57
-8.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.47 KWD 0.76
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.44 KWD 1.06
-
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$5.44 KWD 1.67
-64.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.60 KWD 0.18
40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.34 KWD 0.10
5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.41 KWD 0.43
16.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.08 KWD 0.33
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.66 KWD 0.51
-30.72%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.98 KWD 0.61
-2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$4.58 KWD 1.41
248.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$6.32 KWD 1.95
-50.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$9.84 KWD 3.03
12.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$2.25 KWD 0.69
20.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.68 KWD 0.52
-29.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.51 KWD 0.47
13.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.42 KWD 0.44
13.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$1.29 KWD 0.40
7.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.10 KWD 0.34
4.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$1.66 KWD 0.51
-57.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.45 KWD 0.14
22.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 KWD 0.33
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$2.88 KWD 0.89
58.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.83 KWD 0.26
6.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$44.84 KWD 13.81
-57.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$3.21 KWD 0.99
-56.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$3.31 KWD 1.02
-60.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$16.19 KWD 4.99
-49.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$0.36 KWD 0.11
241.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$20.2K KWD 6,225
4.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$19.2K KWD 5,924
16.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$61.3 KWD 18.89
13.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$18.08 KWD 5.57
-22.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$25.83 KWD 7.96
-31.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$95.1 KWD 29.30
-56.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$46.34 KWD 14.27
-85.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$11.56 KWD 3.56
-50.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$284 KWD 87.6
5.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$6,028 KWD 1,857
148.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$42.68 KWD 13.15
28.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$42.62 KWD 13.13
-38.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$88.5 KWD 27.25
-4.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$81.0 KWD 24.94
-13.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$781 KWD 241
-45.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$602 KWD 185
-59.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$1,596 KWD 492
-49.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$1,270 KWD 391
-60.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sabah Al Salem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$2,961 KWD 912
-78.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
7.14
-29.97%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: April 13, 2026

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

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