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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,101 in Unaizah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,694 in Unaizah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,286 in Unaizah, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Unaizah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Unaizah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Unaizah 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$6.62 SAR 24.85

-68.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$39.80 SAR 149

-50.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.98 SAR 26.23

-18.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.99 SAR 14.99

-54.64%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.74 SAR 2.77

4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.28 SAR 1.06

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.47 SAR 5.54

39.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.31 SAR 1.17

387.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.14 SAR 8.03

-34.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.40 SAR 9.02

-5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$5.92 SAR 22.23

173.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.60 SAR 17.26

-36.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.73 SAR 47.81

-26.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.15 SAR 8.08

24.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.58 SAR 5.95

-31.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.54 SAR 5.80

5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.68 SAR 6.33

-13.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.18 SAR 4.44

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-59.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.14 SAR 4.27

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-17.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.84 SAR 10.66

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.35

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.56 SAR 24.63

-35.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$1.06 SAR 3.98

-16.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$36.06 SAR 135

49.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.86 SAR 10.72

-59.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.81 SAR 6.80

-67.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$13.51 SAR 50.7

-82.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.64 SAR 2.42

126.56%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$46.3K SAR 174.1K

-54.66%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$21.5K SAR 80.9K

22.70%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$99.6 SAR 374

-36.09%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$31.98 SAR 120

-59.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$68.1 SAR 256

-69.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$53.8 SAR 202

-27.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$36.87 SAR 139

-89.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$13.10 SAR 49.22

-49.77%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$347 SAR 1,303

125.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,702 SAR 25.2K

118.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$50.7 SAR 190

8.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$59.1 SAR 222

-58.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$96.8 SAR 364

-2.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$89.2 SAR 335

-17.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$576 SAR 2,163

-14.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$339 SAR 1,275

-15.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$893 SAR 3,353

-0.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$556 SAR 2,087

-6.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,401 SAR 9,020

-17.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,380 SAR 5,182

4.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$2,517 SAR 9,453

-76.10%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Unaizah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $576 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 318% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Unaizah. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $171 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 18% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,652 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $347 in Unaizah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% 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 $932, than in Unaizah at $1,101. 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 $932 versus $1,101 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.