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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $900 in Sanaa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,466 in Sanaa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,032 in Sanaa, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Sanaa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Sanaa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Sanaa 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.11 YER 1,455

-68.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$22.83 YER 5,440

-18.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.15 YER 2,418

-22.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 YER 432

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 YER 430

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.72 YER 888

-47.58%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.14 YER 273

-25.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.46 YER 110

-23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.91 YER 455

-10.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.20 YER 287

35.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.47 YER 589

-53.85%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.03 YER 959

-52.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.86 YER 2,350

64.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.82 YER 1,625

-54.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$19.15 YER 4,563

-43.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.92 YER 933

-29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.44 YER 344

-15.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.41 YER 574

-32.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.64 YER 391

-3.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.70 YER 405

-17.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.57 YER 374

-25.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.64 YER 151

3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.74 YER 176

-28.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 YER 782

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 YER 394

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 YER 772

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.91 YER 932

19.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.42 YER 101

114.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$82.1 YER 19.6K

-76.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$4.21 YER 1,004

-66.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.99 YER 952

-67.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.32 YER 1,745

7.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.68 YER 640

-52.61%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$16.4K YER 3.9M

29.46%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$33.5K YER 8.0M

-33.73%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$72.3 YER 17.2K

-4.51%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.70 YER 3,266

2.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$38.45 YER 9,163

-53.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$66.6 YER 15.9K

-38.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.68 YER 3,975

-58.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.90 YER 1,405

0.34%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$116 YER 27.5K

158.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,808 YER 430.7K

727.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$39.29 YER 9,363

39.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$148 YER 35.2K

-81.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$41.65 YER 9,924

104.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$42.36 YER 10.1K

66.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$167 YER 39.8K

156.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$95.3 YER 22.7K

149.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$410 YER 97.8K

95.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$265 YER 63.2K

94.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$4,123 YER 982.5K

-52.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$819 YER 195.1K

80.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$191 YER 45.5K

223.14%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $167 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 223% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Sanaa. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $244 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 4% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,350 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $900 in Sanaa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $900 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.