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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,146 in Unaizah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,774 in Unaizah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,402 in Unaizah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than Unaizah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Unaizah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Unaizah 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$6.47 SAR 24.26

-69.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$40.06 SAR 150

-53.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$7.04 SAR 26.39

12.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 SAR 4.86

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$4.07 SAR 15.26

-53.07%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.72 SAR 2.72

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.28 SAR 1.06

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.50 SAR 5.61

9.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.29 SAR 1.08

458.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$2.26 SAR 8.49

-47.79%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.42 SAR 9.06

-16.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$6.05 SAR 22.69

162.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$4.62 SAR 17.32

-34.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$13.08 SAR 49.06

-17.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$2.27 SAR 8.52

14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.62 SAR 6.07

-24.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.55 SAR 5.82

1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.29 SAR 4.84

2.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$2.65 SAR 9.93

-55.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.19 SAR 4.47

-43.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.68 SAR 2.55

-17.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.09 SAR 11.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$6.84 SAR 25.64

-33.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$1.08 SAR 4.05

-17.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$40.65 SAR 152

-52.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$2.60 SAR 9.75

-48.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-28.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$13.53 SAR 50.7

-39.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$0.61 SAR 2.28

108.20%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$26.2K SAR 98.3K

-19.32%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

2.62%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$104 SAR 391

-32.74%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$33.59 SAR 126

-59.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$71.8 SAR 269

-75.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$53.9 SAR 202

-22.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$35.68 SAR 134

-81.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$15.43 SAR 57.9

-62.54%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$358 SAR 1,341

-14.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$7,080 SAR 26.6K

109.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$60.1 SAR 225

-9.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$60.8 SAR 228

-57.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$78.6 SAR 295

7.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$80.4 SAR 302

-13.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$448 SAR 1,679

-5.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$374 SAR 1,404

-36.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$847 SAR 3,175

-2.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$630 SAR 2,364

-18.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

$2,243 SAR 8,410

-8.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

$1,249 SAR 4,683

21.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$2,542 SAR 9,532

-75.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

13.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Unaizah: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $448 in Unaizah. 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 300% higher in Unaizah, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Unaizah. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Unaizah – so Unaizah 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 Unaizah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Unaizah costs about 35% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,719 in Unaizah. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $358 in Unaizah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Unaizah – 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 $852, than in Unaizah at $1,146. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Unaizah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,146 in Unaizah. 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, Unaizah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.