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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,025 per month in Jizan vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,579 per month in Jizan vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,133 per month in Jizan vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Jizan costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Jizan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Jizan 23% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 SAR 24.62

$1.94 ฿63.5

238.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.79 SAR 101

$18.64 ฿609

43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.45

$7.82 ฿255

-13.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.85

Cappuccino

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$1.95 ฿63.8

73.33%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.63

$0.85 ฿27.77

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.73

$0.35 ฿11.58

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.71 ฿56.0

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 SAR 3.78

$1.63 ฿53.2

-38.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 SAR 7.40

$1.14 ฿37.15

72.81%

Eggs

$2.56 SAR 9.63

$1.93 ฿63.1

32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 SAR 26.96

$16.21 ฿530

-55.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.86 SAR 21.98

$3.12 ฿102

87.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 SAR 58.8

$10.90 ฿356

43.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$2.75 ฿90.0

-36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

$1.21 ฿39.52

19.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.37

$1.62 ฿53.0

4.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$1.59 ฿51.8

-22.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

$1.40 ฿45.70

-24.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$1.17 ฿38.17

-10.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 SAR 4.20

$0.66 ฿21.60

69.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.91

$0.53 ฿17.22

-3.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.02 SAR 26.34

$4.69 ฿153

49.68%

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)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$0.90 ฿29.26

21.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.41 SAR 152

$19.21 ฿628

110.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 SAR 9.94

$1.41 ฿45.91

87.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$1.29 ฿42.12

46.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.21 SAR 49.56

$7.84 ฿256

68.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.35

$1.27 ฿41.58

-50.39%

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

$27.0K SAR 101.4K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

27.01%

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

$22.0K SAR 82.4K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-1.11%

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

$88.2 SAR 331

$69.1 ฿2,256

27.75%

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

$36.72 SAR 138

$14.08 ฿460

160.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.7 SAR 273

$18.00 ฿588

304.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.8 SAR 329

$41.06 ฿1,341

113.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.82 SAR 134

$6.96 ฿227

414.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.46 SAR 58.0

$5.92 ฿193

161.15%

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

$133 SAR 500

$299 ฿9,766

-55.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,394 SAR 12.7K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-77.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.70 SAR 111

$54.7 ฿1,787

-45.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.25 SAR 174

$26.77 ฿874

72.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 SAR 300

$85.0 ฿2,776

-5.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.6 SAR 302

$70.6 ฿2,306

14.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$322 SAR 1,208

$428 ฿14.0K

-24.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 SAR 844

$237 ฿7,752

-5.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 SAR 1,862

$801 ฿26.2K

-38.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 SAR 1,807

$515 ฿16.8K

-6.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$795 SAR 2,984

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-59.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,620 SAR 6,079

$617 ฿20.2K

162.32%

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 Jizan: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $322 in Jizan 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 162% higher in Jizan, 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 $27.00 in Jizan versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Jizan vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Jizan 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

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

Jizan costs about 18% 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 $1,538 per month in Jizan 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 $133 per month in Jizan 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 30% cheaper in Jizan – 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 Jizan at $1,025. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jizan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,025 in Jizan. 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, Jizan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.