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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $945 in Shinas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,408 in Shinas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,872 in Shinas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Shinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$5.18 OMR 2.00

-59.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$34.11 OMR 13.13

-41.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.88 OMR 3.03

-26.52%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$4.81 OMR 1.85

-61.95%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$0.91 OMR 0.35

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$0.27 OMR 0.10

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$13.22 OMR 5.09

-82.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$12.93 OMR 4.98

-71.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$2.24 OMR 0.86

-9.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.25 OMR 0.48

28.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-23.24%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$2.89 OMR 1.11

-24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$7.57 OMR 2.91

110.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$6.56 OMR 2.53

-53.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$10.60 OMR 4.08

-6.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$3.40 OMR 1.31

-22.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-45.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$2.34 OMR 0.90

-30.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.27 OMR 0.49

20.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$1.19 OMR 0.46

4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$1.24 OMR 0.48

-8.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$1.86 OMR 0.71

-60.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.63 OMR 0.24

-20.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$6.54 OMR 2.52

-34.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$15.36 OMR 5.92

16.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$5.69 OMR 2.19

-70.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$8.81 OMR 3.39

-67.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$3.33 OMR 1.28

-63.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$2.66 OMR 1.02

-80.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$7.88 OMR 3.03

-69.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$0.60 OMR 0.23

140.00%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$25.2K OMR 9,699

-15.88%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.3K OMR 8,594

22.32%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$169 OMR 65.1

-61.60%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$31.37 OMR 12.08

-57.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$70.5 OMR 27.14

-70.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$10.22 OMR 3.93

-34.34%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$286 OMR 110

174.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$10.5K OMR 4,050

43.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$57.0 OMR 21.95

-1.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$43.68 OMR 16.82

-42.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$92.1 OMR 35.44

0.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$97.0 OMR 37.34

-22.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

$3,067 OMR 1,181

-80.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.25

6.10%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Shinas: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 407% higher in Shinas, 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 $34.00 in Shinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $284 – 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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Shinas, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,417 in Shinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $34.00 in Shinas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $945, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Shinas 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. Shinas costs $945 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 Shinas. 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.