🙂A single person spends $673 per month in Khafji vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,071 per month in Khafji vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,470 per month in Khafji vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Khafji is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Khafji and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Khafji51% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11SAR 11.69
$2.08฿69.3
49.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.17SAR 132
$19.61฿653
79.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.10SAR 19.14
$5.67฿189
-10.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.89SAR 3.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.99SAR 11.24
$1.81฿60.1
65.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78SAR 2.95
$0.77฿25.58
1.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21SAR 0.77
$0.35฿11.49
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿73.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿126
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SAR 6.50
$2.05฿68.2
-15.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$1.51฿50.4
-15.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$1.40฿46.57
37.14%
Eggs
$2.17SAR 8.15
$2.26฿75.2
-3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.63SAR 28.66
$16.19฿539
-52.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.66SAR 28.76
$2.90฿96.4
164.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93SAR 48.58
$9.42฿314
37.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.22SAR 8.32
$2.68฿89.2
-17.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73SAR 6.49
$1.09฿36.28
58.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.19
$1.62฿53.8
1.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.91
$1.46฿48.61
7.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09SAR 4.08
$1.28฿42.54
-14.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20SAR 4.51
$1.06฿35.21
13.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26SAR 4.74
$0.72฿23.88
75.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61SAR 2.31
$0.53฿17.51
15.09%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.10SAR 15.42
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SAR 5.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SAR 8.08
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.66SAR 28.78
$4.23฿141
81.09%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.29฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63฿54.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.24
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.62SAR 9.85
$1.17฿39.04
123.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.63SAR 9.88
$0.58฿19.25
353.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.11SAR 49.26
$2.39฿79.4
448.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$1.45฿48.28
-58.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.4KSAR 249.5K
$21.0K฿699.5K
216.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.7K
$26.4K฿879.7K
-18.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131SAR 491
$63.7฿2,119
105.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.55SAR 122
$12.89฿429
152.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1SAR 233
$20.52฿683
202.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,299
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.50SAR 50.7
$6.58฿219
105.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131SAR 492
$784฿26.1K
-83.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,026SAR 15.1K
$14.7K฿488.4K
-72.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.49SAR 160
$55.1฿1,835
-22.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.58SAR 186
$24.74฿824
100.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SAR 368
$94.1฿3,133
3.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1SAR 346
$74.0฿2,462
24.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$667SAR 2,505
$490฿16.3K
36.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$288฿9,594
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khafji
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
5.57
5.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khafji: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $667 in Khafji versus $490 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Khafji versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Khafji vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Khafji 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
Khafji vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Khafji or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Khafji, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Khafji and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,010 per month in Khafji and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Khafji or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khafji, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Khafji and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Khafji and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Khafji or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Khafji or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Khafji, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Khafji it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Khafji or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khafji costs $673 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Khafji 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 Khafji or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Khafji. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.