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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,322 per month in Hadiya vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,230 per month in Hadiya vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Hadiya vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Hadiya costs about 54% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hadiya and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Hadiya 1% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.57 KWD 2.33
$1.96 ฿65.7
286.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7 KWD 18.03
$18.35 ฿616
219.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 KWD 2.70
$7.48 ฿251
17.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 KWD 0.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 KWD 1.09
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.30 KWD 1.63
$2.02 ฿67.7
162.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 KWD 0.20
$0.85 ฿28.45
-24.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 KWD 0.11
$0.36 ฿11.94
2.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14 ฿71.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59 ฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 KWD 0.45
$1.65 ฿55.4
-10.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 KWD 0.33
$1.57 ฿52.6
-30.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 KWD 0.51
$1.19 ฿39.95
39.50%
Eggs
$1.96 KWD 0.60
$1.94 ฿65.0
1.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.58 KWD 1.41
$16.19 ฿544
-71.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.39 KWD 1.96
$2.99 ฿100
113.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.55 KWD 2.93
$10.94 ฿367
-12.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 KWD 0.71
$2.71 ฿91.0
-14.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 KWD 0.52
$1.17 ฿39.18
43.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 KWD 0.48
$1.69 ฿56.6
-7.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 KWD 0.44
$1.60 ฿53.9
-11.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 KWD 0.39
$1.38 ฿46.45
-7.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 KWD 0.35
$1.20 ฿40.38
-5.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 KWD 0.50
$0.67 ฿22.46
141.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 KWD 0.14
$0.56 ฿18.70
-17.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.78 KWD 0.85
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 KWD 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 KWD 0.91
$4.64 ฿156
-36.42%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.62 ฿591
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ฿62.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30 ฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 KWD 0.26
$0.88 ฿29.63
-4.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.27 KWD 13.61
$19.34 ฿649
128.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 KWD 0.99
$1.36 ฿45.82
137.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.18 KWD 0.98
$1.34 ฿44.90
137.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.32 KWD 5.02
$8.21 ฿276
98.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.34 KWD 0.10
$1.22 ฿41.11
-72.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K KWD 6,252
$21.4K ฿716.8K
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K KWD 5,925
$22.5K ฿756.3K
-14.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 KWD 19.58
$70.7 ฿2,372
-9.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.44 KWD 5.67
$14.04 ฿471
31.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.93 KWD 7.97
$17.49 ฿587
48.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$92.8 KWD 28.53
$42.15 ฿1,415
120.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.11 KWD 14.18
$6.88 ฿231
570.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.38 KWD 3.50
$5.92 ฿199
92.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 KWD 87.9
$309 ฿10.4K
-7.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,152 KWD 1,891
$14.9K ฿499.5K
-58.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.33 KWD 12.70
$55.8 ฿1,872
-25.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04 KWD 12.92
$26.11 ฿877
61.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 KWD 27.32
$83.0 ฿2,787
7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6 KWD 25.39
$70.5 ฿2,365
17.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$785 KWD 241
$432 ฿14.5K
81.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$599 KWD 184
$239 ฿8,020
150.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,550 KWD 476
$822 ฿27.6K
88.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 KWD 401
$512 ฿17.2K
154.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,915 ฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hadiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,501 KWD 1,384
$579 ฿19.4K
676.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.14
5
42.80%

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

Last update for Hadiya: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $785 in Hadiya versus $432 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 677% higher in Hadiya, 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 $59.0 in Hadiya versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Hadiya vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Hadiya 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
Hadiya vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hadiya or Chiang Mai?
Hadiya costs about 54% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hadiya and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,983 per month in Hadiya and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hadiya or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Hadiya and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $286 per month in Hadiya and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Hadiya or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 45% cheaper in Hadiya – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hadiya or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Hadiya at $1,322. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hadiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hadiya or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,322 in Hadiya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hadiya compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Hadiya or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hadiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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