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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,038 in Yanbu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,626 in Yanbu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,214 in Yanbu, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Yanbu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Yanbu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Yanbu 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$6.51 SAR 24.46

-68.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$37.19 SAR 140

-47.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.85 SAR 25.73

-17.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 SAR 6.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.57 SAR 13.40

-49.30%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.79 SAR 2.97

-2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.20 SAR 0.77

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.70 SAR 6.39

20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.88 SAR 3.32

71.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$2.16 SAR 8.10

-35.19%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-5.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$6.34 SAR 23.81

155.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$8.25 SAR 30.97

-64.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$13.30 SAR 49.96

-29.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.09 SAR 7.86

28.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-36.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.51 SAR 5.66

7.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.67 SAR 6.29

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.17 SAR 4.38

9.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-2.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.04 SAR 3.92

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.53 SAR 2.00

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 SAR 7.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.72 SAR 25.23

-37.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$1.04 SAR 3.92

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$26.14 SAR 98.2

105.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$3.21 SAR 12.07

-63.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.78 SAR 2.93

-25.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$13.61 SAR 51.1

-82.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.62 SAR 2.33

133.87%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$46.4K SAR 174.3K

-54.73%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$21.4K SAR 80.5K

23.20%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$102 SAR 384

-37.71%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$22.45 SAR 84.3

-42.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$67.4 SAR 253

-69.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$95.1 SAR 357

-58.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$26.16 SAR 98.2

-85.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$11.96 SAR 44.90

-44.98%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$266 SAR 998

195.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$3,837 SAR 14.4K

282.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$67.1 SAR 252

-17.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$60.9 SAR 229

-59.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$97.9 SAR 368

-3.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$97.9 SAR 368

-24.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$313 SAR 1,175

56.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$210 SAR 789

37.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$595 SAR 2,233

49.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$425 SAR 1,597

22.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$3,470 SAR 13.0K

-82.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.39

3.34%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Yanbu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $313 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 477% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Yanbu. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $196 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 11% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,556 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $266 in Yanbu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% 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 $932, than in Yanbu at $1,038. 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 $932 versus $1,038 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.