Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,024 per month in Ha'il vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Ha'il vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,889 per month in Ha'il vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ha'il costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ha'il and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ha'il 24% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.74 SAR 25.31

$1.98 ฿64.3

240.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.47 SAR 95.6

$18.80 ฿612

35.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 SAR 27.11

$7.75 ฿252

-6.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 SAR 7.84

Cappuccino

$3.29 SAR 12.36

$1.92 ฿62.5

71.35%

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

$1.03 SAR 3.87

$0.79 ฿25.79

30.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.20

$0.36 ฿11.62

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.65 ฿53.8

2.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 SAR 3.19

$1.63 ฿53.2

-47.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$1.19 ฿38.86

56.30%

Eggs

$1.96 SAR 7.36

$2.00 ฿65.1

-2.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 SAR 25.54

$15.98 ฿520

-57.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 SAR 31.84

$3.03 ฿98.5

180.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 SAR 31.58

$10.86 ฿354

-22.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.79

$2.76 ฿90.0

-44.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$1.18 ฿38.42

33.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 SAR 4.90

$1.64 ฿53.5

-20.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.32

$1.52 ฿49.51

28.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$1.38 ฿45.10

-6.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.19 ฿38.84

33.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.98

$0.70 ฿22.86

51.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.83

$0.56 ฿18.13

-12.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.74 SAR 10.27

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.69

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.80

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.05 SAR 26.45

$4.58 ฿149

53.93%

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)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$0.88 ฿28.56

23.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.68 SAR 153

$18.72 ฿610

117.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 SAR 9.93

$1.36 ฿44.16

94.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 SAR 7.13

$1.34 ฿43.65

41.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.51 SAR 50.7

$7.84 ฿256

72.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$1.23 ฿39.92

-52.85%

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

$27.2K SAR 102.0K

$21.6K ฿704.3K

25.66%

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

$22.1K SAR 82.8K

$22.5K ฿734.3K

-2.15%

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

$53.4 SAR 200

$70.5 ฿2,298

-24.28%

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

$21.53 SAR 80.8

$13.68 ฿445

57.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.44 SAR 174

$17.45 ฿568

166.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.9 SAR 251

$41.33 ฿1,346

61.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.13 SAR 136

$6.96 ฿227

419.11%

Cinema Ticket

$14.85 SAR 55.7

$5.77 ฿188

157.37%

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

$356 SAR 1,336

$307 ฿10.0K

15.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,030 SAR 26.4K

$14.6K ฿475.9K

-51.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 SAR 225

$55.8 ฿1,817

7.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 SAR 228

$26.21 ฿854

132.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 SAR 298

$85.8 ฿2,793

-7.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 SAR 305

$72.2 ฿2,353

12.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 SAR 1,840

$430 ฿14.0K

14.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 SAR 1,223

$239 ฿7,774

36.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 SAR 1,652

$817 ฿26.6K

-46.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 SAR 1,360

$511 ฿16.6K

-29.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,399 SAR 9,004

$1,983 ฿64.6K

21.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,311 SAR 4,921

$1,484 ฿48.3K

-11.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,066 SAR 3,999

$619 ฿20.2K

72.20%

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 Ha'il: June 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Ha'il 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.

Salaries run about 72% higher in Ha'il, 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 $25.00 in Ha'il versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Ha'il vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Ha'il 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

Ha'il vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ha'il 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 $1,536 per month in Ha'il 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 $356 per month in Ha'il 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 35% cheaper in Ha'il – 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 Ha'il at $1,024. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ha'il it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,024 in Ha'il. 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, Ha'il makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.