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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Dammam vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Dammam vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,530 per month in Dammam vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Dammam costs about 39% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Dammam and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Dammam 10% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.73 SAR 25.28

$1.98 ฿65.0

239.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.67 SAR 153

$18.80 ฿619

116.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 SAR 29.26

$7.75 ฿255

0.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

Cappuccino

$3.64 SAR 13.67

$1.92 ฿63.2

89.58%

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

$0.81 SAR 3.05

$0.79 ฿26.07

2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 SAR 1.14

$0.36 ฿11.74

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.65 ฿54.4

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 SAR 3.82

$1.63 ฿53.7

-37.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 SAR 8.85

$1.19 ฿39.28

98.32%

Eggs

$2.59 SAR 9.74

$2.00 ฿65.8

29.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.90 SAR 25.90

$15.98 ฿526

-56.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 SAR 28.26

$3.03 ฿99.6

148.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.74 SAR 47.85

$10.86 ฿357

17.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 SAR 8.79

$2.76 ฿90.9

-15.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.18 ฿38.83

44.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.64 ฿54.0

-4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.52 ฿50.0

3.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$1.38 ฿45.59

-10.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 5.01

$1.19 ฿39.25

11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$0.70 ฿23.11

95.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.56 ฿18.32

3.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.93 SAR 10.99

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 SAR 6.44

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 SAR 7.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.25 SAR 27.22

$4.58 ฿151

58.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.06

$0.88 ฿28.87

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.81 SAR 149

$18.72 ฿616

112.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 SAR 10.27

$1.36 ฿44.64

100.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 SAR 7.15

$1.34 ฿44.12

42.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.59 SAR 51.0

$7.84 ฿258

73.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$1.23 ฿40.35

-51.22%

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

$27.0K SAR 101.4K

$21.6K ฿711.8K

24.95%

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

$22.9K SAR 86.1K

$22.5K ฿742.2K

1.73%

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

$106 SAR 399

$70.5 ฿2,322

50.69%

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

$33.85 SAR 127

$13.68 ฿450

147.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 SAR 265

$17.45 ฿574

304.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.4 SAR 358

$41.33 ฿1,361

130.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.96 SAR 131

$6.96 ฿229

402.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.40 SAR 54.1

$5.77 ฿190

149.57%

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

$355 SAR 1,332

$307 ฿10.1K

15.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,665 SAR 28.8K

$14.6K ฿481.0K

-47.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 SAR 209

$55.8 ฿1,837

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 SAR 235

$26.21 ฿863

139.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 SAR 319

$85.8 ฿2,823

-0.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 SAR 301

$72.2 ฿2,378

11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 SAR 1,613

$430 ฿14.1K

-0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 SAR 1,401

$239 ฿7,857

56.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 SAR 3,283

$817 ฿26.9K

6.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 SAR 2,372

$511 ฿16.8K

23.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,778 SAR 6,677

$1,983 ฿65.3K

-10.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,106 SAR 4,154

$1,484 ฿48.9K

-25.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

-11.60%

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

Last update for Dammam: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Dammam versus $430 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Dammam versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Dammam vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Dammam 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

Dammam vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dammam costs about 39% 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 $1,810 per month in Dammam and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. 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 $355 per month in Dammam and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Dammam – 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 Dammam at $1,207. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dammam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,207 in Dammam. 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, Dammam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.