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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$1.94 ฿63.5

237.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$18.64 ฿609

118.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$7.82 ฿255

4.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.45

$1.95 ฿63.8

83.59%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.85 ฿27.77

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.35 ฿11.58

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.71 ฿56.0

1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.63 ฿53.2

-41.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$1.14 ฿37.15

101.75%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$1.93 ฿63.1

42.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.83

$16.21 ฿530

-54.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$3.12 ฿102

144.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$10.90 ฿356

13.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$2.75 ฿90.0

-21.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.21 ฿39.52

29.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.62 ฿53.0

-4.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$1.59 ฿51.8

-3.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.40 ฿45.70

-5.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.17 ฿38.17

3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$0.66 ฿21.60

59.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.53 ฿17.22

13.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.37

$4.69 ฿153

44.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$0.90 ฿29.26

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$19.21 ฿628

106.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$1.41 ฿45.91

129.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.29 ฿42.12

45.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$7.84 ฿256

95.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$1.27 ฿41.58

-50.39%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

26.50%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-3.55%

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

$105 SAR 393

$69.1 ฿2,256

51.76%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$14.08 ฿460

129.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$18.00 ฿588

289.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$41.06 ฿1,341

121.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$6.96 ฿227

548.99%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.26

$5.92 ฿193

121.62%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$299 ฿9,766

33.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-57.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$54.7 ฿1,787

18.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$26.77 ฿874

116.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$85.0 ฿2,776

8.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$70.6 ฿2,306

19.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$428 ฿14.0K

17.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$237 ฿7,752

64.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,375

$801 ฿26.2K

12.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$515 ฿16.8K

19.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-17.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-31.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,219

$617 ฿20.2K

168.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

-10.00%

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

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah versus $428 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 168% higher in Jeddah, 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 $41.00 in Jeddah versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Jeddah vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Jeddah 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

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

Jeddah 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 $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,300 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 $400 per month in Jeddah and $299 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 25% cheaper in Jeddah – 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 $866, than in Jeddah at $1,202. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,202 in Jeddah. 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, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.