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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $914 in Sanaa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,460 in Sanaa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,006 in Sanaa, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 6% cheaper than Sanaa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Sanaa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sanaa 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$6.33 YER 1,499

-69.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$22.96 YER 5,433

-20.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$10.47 YER 2,479

-28.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 YER 417

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 YER 431

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.69 YER 873

-45.26%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.16 YER 274

-26.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.47 YER 111

-23.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.88 YER 446

-12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.22 YER 289

28.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$2.48 YER 588

-52.02%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$4.03 YER 953

-51.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.87 YER 2,337

64.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.69 YER 1,582

-55.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$18.58 YER 4,397

-41.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.85 YER 912

-29.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.39 YER 329

-15.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.39 YER 566

-29.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.64 YER 389

-2.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.79 YER 424

-22.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.62 YER 384

-25.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.63 YER 149

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.73 YER 172

-23.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.38 YER 800

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 YER 395

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 YER 775

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.05 YER 958

14.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.42 YER 101

109.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$81.8 YER 19.4K

-76.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$4.15 YER 982

-67.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$4.03 YER 953

-66.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.02 YER 1,661

16.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$2.74 YER 648

-55.47%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$16.7K YER 3.9M

28.11%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.9K YER 8.0M

-33.56%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$71.5 YER 16.9K

-1.13%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.56 YER 3,209

3.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$38.21 YER 9,042

-54.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$67.4 YER 16.0K

-37.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.43 YER 3,889

-58.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.89 YER 1,394

0.51%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$112 YER 26.6K

174.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,809 YER 428.2K

722.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$39.44 YER 9,336

41.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$147 YER 34.8K

-82.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$40.85 YER 9,668

103.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$41.77 YER 9,885

68.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$166 YER 39.4K

159.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$95.4 YER 22.6K

150.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$403 YER 95.4K

104.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$261 YER 61.7K

96.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$4,070 YER 963.3K

-52.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$808 YER 191.1K

81.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$190 YER 45.0K

204.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

-55.56%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $166 in Sanaa. 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 204% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Sanaa. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $241 in Sanaa – so Sanaa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Sanaa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanaa costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,371 in Sanaa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $112 in Sanaa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Sanaa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $914 in Sanaa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $914 in Sanaa. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sanaa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.