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

😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 103.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 236.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dubai is 110.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 215.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 AED 40.48
$2.02 ฿65.3
445.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 AED 295
$18.78 ฿608
327.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 AED 34.28
$7.67 ฿248
21.64%
Cappuccino
$5.49 AED 20.15
$1.98 ฿64.2
177.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 AED 4.57
$0.82 ฿26.64
51.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 AED 3.22
$0.33 ฿10.58
166.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.4 AED 45.55
$2.12 ฿68.6
484.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$3.73 ฿121
262.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 AED 7.36
$1.64 ฿53.2
22.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 AED 5.22
$1.57 ฿50.9
-9.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 AED 8.32
$1.19 ฿38.62
90.76%
Eggs
$3.31 AED 12.15
$1.98 ฿64.1
67.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 AED 37.4
$15.99 ฿517
-36.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.18 AED 33.71
$3.12 ฿101
194.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.76 AED 46.85
$11.16 ฿361
14.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.3 AED 8.44
$2.76 ฿89.2
-16.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 AED 6.85
$1.22 ฿39.5
53.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 AED 6.82
$1.71 ฿55.4
8.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 AED 5.48
$1.55 ฿50.2
-3.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 AED 4.39
$1.34 ฿43.21
-11.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 AED 4.64
$1.21 ฿39.23
4.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.4 AED 5.13
$0.72 ฿23.2
94.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 AED 2.38
$0.53 ฿17.05
22.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.7 AED 24.61
$4.72 ฿153
41.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.32 AED 59.9
$18.39 ฿595
-11.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 AED 9.68
$1.79 ฿57.9
47.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 AED 12.92
$3.21 ฿104
9.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.59 AED 5.84
$0.94 ฿30.44
69.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.7 AED 296
$18.9 ฿612
327.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 AED 11.83
$1.42 ฿46.08
126.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 AED 3.14
$1.35 ฿43.53
-37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 AED 30.73
$7.85 ฿254
6.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 AED 2.65
$1.25 ฿40.4
-42.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33K AED 121K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
55.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K AED 83.3K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
3.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 AED 796
$70.6 ฿2,285
207.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.4 AED 233
$13.72 ฿444
362.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 AED 371
$17.56 ฿568
475.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.1 AED 327
$41.64 ฿1,347
113.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.03 AED 169
$6.9 ฿223
567.10%
Cinema Ticket
$14.96 AED 54.9
$5.8 ฿188
157.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$833 AED 3,060
$308 ฿9,963
170.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K AED 52.4K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.3 AED 306
$55.4 ฿1,793
50.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7 AED 234
$26.4 ฿854
141.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 AED 413
$85.1 ฿2,755
32.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 AED 447
$71.8 ฿2,323
69.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,421 AED 8,892
$434 ฿14K
457.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 AED 5,729
$235 ฿7,610
563.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,608 AED 16.9K
$821 ฿26.6K
461.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,940 AED 10.8K
$498 ฿16.1K
490.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,378 AED 27.1K
$2,180 ฿70.6K
238.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,803 AED 14K
$1,543 ฿49.9K
146.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubai
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,063 AED 14.9K
$703 ฿22.8K
477.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.49
5
-10.20%

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

Last update for Dubai: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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