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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 12.4% cheaper than Salmiya without rent, and 39.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 34.5% cheaper than Salmiya without rent, and 41.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$8.86 KWD 2.71
-77.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$49.9 KWD 15.25
-62.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$7.94 KWD 2.43
-3.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.66 KWD 0.51
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.67 KWD 0.51
-
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$5.19 KWD 1.58
-61.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.45 KWD 0.14
82.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.32 KWD 0.1
3.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.57 KWD 0.48
4.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.83 KWD 0.25
89.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.79 KWD 0.55
-33.52%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2 KWD 0.61
-1.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$5.14 KWD 1.57
211.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.37 KWD 1.95
-51.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$9.01 KWD 2.75
23.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.32 KWD 0.71
18.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.63 KWD 0.5
-25.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.81 KWD 0.55
-5.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.49 KWD 0.46
4.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.28 KWD 0.39
4.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.3 KWD 0.4
-6.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.66 KWD 0.51
-56.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.49 KWD 0.15
8.16%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.89 KWD 0.88
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 KWD 0.32
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.35 KWD 0.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.98 KWD 0.91
58.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.07 KWD 0.33
-12.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$49.94 KWD 15.26
-62.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.2 KWD 0.98
-55.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$3.28 KWD 1
-58.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$13.22 KWD 4.04
-40.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.36 KWD 0.11
247.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$19.9K KWD 6,086
6.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$20K KWD 6,104
9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$55.5 KWD 16.95
27.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$18.24 KWD 5.57
-24.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$26.19 KWD 8
-32.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$108 KWD 33.08
-61.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$33.33 KWD 10.19
-79.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$11.66 KWD 3.56
-50.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$400 KWD 122
-22.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$5,591 KWD 1,709
162.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$42.82 KWD 13.09
29.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$43.21 KWD 13.2
-38.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$86.2 KWD 26.33
-1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$82.9 KWD 25.34
-13.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$882 KWD 270
-50.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$665 KWD 203
-64.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,653 KWD 811
-69.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,304 KWD 398
-61.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Salmiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$1,903 KWD 582
-63.05%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Salmiya: October 29, 2025

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