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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,020 in Sanaa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,621 in Sanaa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,223 in Sanaa, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Sanaa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Sanaa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sanaa 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$6.33 YER 1,495

-67.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$24.97 YER 5,899

-21.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.53 YER 2,252

-40.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 YER 468

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 YER 604

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.80 YER 898

-52.37%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$1.18 YER 279

-34.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.63 YER 150

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$2.09 YER 493

-1.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.66 YER 391

-9.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.98 YER 469

-29.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$3.70 YER 875

-38.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$17.00 YER 4,018

-4.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$8.11 YER 1,917

-64.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$19.13 YER 4,520

-50.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.26 YER 771

-17.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.01 YER 239

7.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.26 YER 533

-28.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.69 YER 398

-13.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.53 YER 362

-16.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.38 YER 326

-23.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.21 YER 286

-40.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.68 YER 160

-22.06%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.46 YER 817

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 YER 440

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 YER 776

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.60 YER 1,322

-24.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.44 YER 103

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$86.0 YER 20.3K

-37.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$4.26 YER 1,006

-72.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$2.17 YER 513

-73.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$7.41 YER 1,751

-67.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$2.11 YER 499

-31.28%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$16.7K YER 4.0M

25.56%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$34.6K YER 8.2M

-23.63%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$108 YER 25.6K

-41.33%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$23.71 YER 5,603

-45.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$101 YER 23.9K

-79.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$67.5 YER 15.9K

-42.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$16.01 YER 3,782

-75.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.84 YER 1,380

12.67%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$118 YER 27.8K

567.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$2,184 YER 515.9K

571.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$41.56 YER 9,820

32.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$121 YER 28.7K

-79.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$48.05 YER 11.4K

95.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$41.45 YER 9,795

78.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$225 YER 53.1K

118.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$95.8 YER 22.6K

200.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$401 YER 94.7K

122.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$270 YER 63.8K

92.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$4,166 YER 984.4K

-52.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$817 YER 193.0K

76.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$197 YER 46.5K

205.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.25

-50.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $225 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 205% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Sanaa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $269 – making Chiang Mai 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 Sanaa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanaa costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,530 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $118 in Sanaa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Sanaa, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Sanaa at $1,020. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sanaa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,020 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.