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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,221 in Tabuk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,862 in Tabuk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,503 in Tabuk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Tabuk, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Tabuk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tabuk 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$7.34 SAR 27.57

-71.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$31.86 SAR 120

-38.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$7.78 SAR 29.21

-27.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 SAR 4.85

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$3.14 SAR 11.81

-42.36%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$0.74 SAR 2.77

-4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.26 SAR 0.97

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$1.98 SAR 7.43

-1.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$0.86 SAR 3.22

74.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$2.68 SAR 10.06

-50.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.97 SAR 11.15

-23.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$12.18 SAR 45.73

33.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$6.83 SAR 25.66

-56.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$13.05 SAR 49.01

-23.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$1.98 SAR 7.45

29.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$1.79 SAR 6.71

-10.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$2.22 SAR 8.32

-31.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$1.70 SAR 6.39

-25.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$2.08 SAR 7.82

-48.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$1.98 SAR 7.42

-63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.56 SAR 2.11

-8.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$6.75 SAR 25.34

-37.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-14.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

$36.27 SAR 136

48.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$2.97 SAR 11.14

-58.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-68.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$13.37 SAR 50.2

-81.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$0.61 SAR 2.30

131.15%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$45.5K SAR 170.8K

-52.86%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$21.1K SAR 79.2K

29.60%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$99.4 SAR 373

-35.95%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$37.39 SAR 140

-65.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$76.3 SAR 286

-73.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$82.9 SAR 311

-53.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$37.30 SAR 140

-89.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$13.11 SAR 49.24

-48.59%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$338 SAR 1,269

130.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$8,501 SAR 31.9K

71.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$50.8 SAR 191

6.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$60.2 SAR 226

-57.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$95.7 SAR 359

-1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$89.1 SAR 334

-17.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$336 SAR 1,263

45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$371 SAR 1,393

-21.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$620 SAR 2,326

44.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$611 SAR 2,296

-15.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$2,388 SAR 8,968

-18.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$1,398 SAR 5,248

5.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,707 SAR 6,409

-64.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.47

1.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tabuk: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $336 in Tabuk. 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 183% higher in Tabuk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Tabuk. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Tabuk – so Tabuk 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 Tabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tabuk costs about 29% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,832 in Tabuk. 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $338 in Tabuk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Tabuk – 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Tabuk at $1,221. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tabuk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,221 in Tabuk. 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, Tabuk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.