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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,000 in Yanbu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,512 in Yanbu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,023 in Yanbu, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Yanbu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Yanbu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Yanbu 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$6.59 SAR 24.73

-69.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$37.96 SAR 142

-50.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.49 SAR 24.34

19.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 SAR 7.56

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.95

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.74 SAR 14.05

-48.66%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.70 SAR 2.62

12.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.23 SAR 0.86

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.87 SAR 3.28

87.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.20 SAR 8.24

-45.91%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.64 SAR 9.90

-24.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.85 SAR 21.96

173.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.92 SAR 29.72

-61.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$12.20 SAR 45.78

-10.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.16 SAR 8.11

27.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.56 SAR 5.87

-24.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.46 SAR 5.46

12.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.54 SAR 5.80

-1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.26 SAR 4.71

9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.97 SAR 3.62

22.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.55 SAR 2.08

1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SAR 6.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$6.24 SAR 23.41

-26.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.08 SAR 4.05

-18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$33.86 SAR 127

-44.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.26 SAR 12.23

-58.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.78 SAR 2.92

71.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$15.35 SAR 57.6

-48.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.57 SAR 2.14

115.79%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$25.9K SAR 97.2K

-16.53%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$21.9K SAR 82.0K

3.15%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$106 SAR 398

-33.47%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$22.79 SAR 85.5

-39.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$68.7 SAR 258

-74.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$97.5 SAR 366

-57.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$35.04 SAR 132

-80.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$13.12 SAR 49.23

-56.02%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$315 SAR 1,181

-2.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$3,765 SAR 14.1K

288.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$23.07 SAR 86.6

141.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$20.91 SAR 78.5

25.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$66.3 SAR 249

29.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$48.58 SAR 182

48.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$316 SAR 1,185

36.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$244 SAR 914

-1.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$606 SAR 2,274

34.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$410 SAR 1,539

24.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$3,532 SAR 13.3K

-82.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.3

51.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Yanbu: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $316 in Yanbu. 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 471% higher in Yanbu, 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 $38.00 in Yanbu. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Yanbu – so Yanbu 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 Yanbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yanbu costs about 15% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,500 in Yanbu. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $315 in Yanbu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Yanbu – 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 $869, than in Yanbu at $1,000. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yanbu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,000 in Yanbu. 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, Yanbu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.