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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $401 in Sabratha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $595 in Sabratha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $789 in Sabratha, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 137% more than Sabratha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sabratha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sabratha 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.14 LYD 19.82

-33.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$9.28 LYD 58.6

113.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$1.61 LYD 10.18

259.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.61 LYD 3.82

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 LYD 4.11

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.47 LYD 2.98

289.36%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.30 LYD 1.87

160.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.08 LYD 0.49

287.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.94 LYD 5.94

115.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.22 LYD 1.39

627.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.13 LYD 7.14

25.66%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.35 LYD 8.49

61.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.98 LYD 31.44

219.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.26 LYD 20.55

-5.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$9.59 LYD 60.6

2.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.00 LYD 12.63

31.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.55 LYD 9.80

-29.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.77 LYD 4.83

111.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.51 LYD 3.24

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.46 LYD 2.89

169.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.32 LYD 2.05

253.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.32 LYD 2.03

131.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.15 LYD 0.92

233.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.85 LYD 11.65

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 LYD 6.74

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 LYD 5.03

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.85 LYD 11.67

131.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.82 LYD 5.20

14.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.81 LYD 5.10

51.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.30 LYD 1.89

76.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$0.82 LYD 5.20

192.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.02 LYD 0.14

7100.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$23.4K LYD 147.6K

-9.39%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$14.2K LYD 89.6K

92.36%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$95.0 LYD 599

-31.62%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$3.87 LYD 24.40

244.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$13.89 LYD 87.7

49.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$11.04 LYD 69.7

266.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$7.73 LYD 48.76

-48.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$38.67 LYD 244

1935.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$607 LYD 3,832

2390.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$20.00 LYD 126

181.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$17.29 LYD 109

44.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$55.6 LYD 351

66.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$15.56 LYD 98.2

382.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$156 LYD 985

209.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$78.3 LYD 494

266.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$240 LYD 1,518

278.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$110 LYD 696

381.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$287 LYD 1,812

589.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$186 LYD 1,175

679.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$188 LYD 1,189

221.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sabratha: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $156 in Sabratha. 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 221% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Sabratha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $112 – making Sabratha 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 Sabratha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 137% more than Sabratha, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $601 in Sabratha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabratha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $9.00 in Sabratha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 117% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabratha, where all-in costs run around $401, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sabratha 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. Sabratha costs $401 versus $950 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 Sabratha. 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.