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 $1,041 per month in Ha'il vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Ha'il vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Ha'il vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ha'il costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ha'il and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ha'il 22% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 SAR 24.68

$2.04 ฿68.4

222.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 SAR 96.7

$18.71 ฿626

37.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 SAR 26.76

$7.86 ฿263

-9.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.87

Cappuccino

$3.27 SAR 12.26

$2.03 ฿67.9

61.08%

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

$1.01 SAR 3.78

$0.80 ฿26.71

26.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.20

$0.35 ฿11.71

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 SAR 6.55

$1.73 ฿57.8

1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 SAR 3.03

$1.57 ฿52.5

-48.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 SAR 7.18

$1.20 ฿40.10

59.17%

Eggs

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$1.97 ฿66.0

-1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.63 SAR 24.89

$16.23 ฿543

-59.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 SAR 33.47

$3.06 ฿102

191.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 SAR 31.85

$10.80 ฿361

-21.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$2.77 ฿92.6

-44.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.69

$1.17 ฿39.05

29.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.71

$1.71 ฿57.1

-26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.59 ฿53.3

27.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.04

$1.39 ฿46.63

-3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.16 ฿38.67

34.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.97

$0.66 ฿22.11

60.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.85

$0.52 ฿17.35

-5.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.43 SAR 9.11

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.02 SAR 26.34

$4.65 ฿155

50.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$0.91 ฿30.35

18.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.94 SAR 150

$18.64 ฿624

114.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 SAR 10.15

$1.41 ฿47.17

91.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

$1.34 ฿44.82

35.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.09 SAR 49.13

$8.11 ฿271

61.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$1.23 ฿41.27

-52.03%

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

$27.2K SAR 102.0K

$21.4K ฿717.0K

26.75%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$21.8K ฿730.0K

4.09%

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

$54.0 SAR 203

$71.3 ฿2,386

-24.31%

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

$21.59 SAR 81.1

$14.01 ฿469

54.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.03 SAR 173

$17.93 ฿600

156.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.3 SAR 249

$40.82 ฿1,365

62.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.21 SAR 136

$6.88 ฿230

426.31%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 SAR 55.2

$5.72 ฿191

156.99%

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

$352 SAR 1,320

$308 ฿10.3K

14.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,085 SAR 26.6K

$14.7K ฿491.0K

-51.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 SAR 222

$55.8 ฿1,865

6.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 SAR 227

$26.04 ฿871

132.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 SAR 292

$84.8 ฿2,837

-8.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.6 SAR 303

$71.0 ฿2,375

13.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 SAR 1,870

$423 ฿14.2K

17.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 SAR 1,241

$242 ฿8,110

36.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 SAR 1,651

$797 ฿26.7K

-44.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 SAR 1,354

$507 ฿17.0K

-28.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,366 SAR 8,883

$1,918 ฿64.2K

23.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 SAR 5,000

$1,464 ฿49.0K

-9.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 SAR 3,993

$595 ฿19.9K

78.75%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $498 in Ha'il versus $423 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 79% 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 $26.00 in Ha'il versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Ha'il vs $244 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 22% 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 $1,562 per month in Ha'il and $1,279 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 $352 per month in Ha'il and $308 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 36% 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 $852, than in Ha'il at $1,041. 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 $852 versus $1,041 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.