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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $760 per month in Lusail vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,301 per month in Lusail vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,842 per month in Lusail vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Lusail is about 19% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Lusail and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Lusail 44% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 QAR 29.77

$2.08 ฿69.3

293.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 QAR 252

$19.61 ฿653

252.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.30 QAR 30.22

$5.67 ฿189

46.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.39 QAR 30.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 QAR 35.86

Cappuccino

$5.39 QAR 19.60

$1.81 ฿60.1

197.79%

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

$0.81 QAR 2.94

$0.77 ฿25.58

5.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 QAR 0.97

$0.35 ฿11.49

-22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 QAR 7.83

$2.05 ฿68.2

4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 QAR 5.31

$1.51 ฿50.4

-3.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 QAR 4.89

$1.40 ฿46.57

-4.29%

Eggs

$3.28 QAR 11.92

$2.26 ฿75.2

45.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.18 QAR 40.69

$16.19 ฿539

-30.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.23 QAR 29.96

$2.90 ฿96.4

183.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.53 QAR 41.95

$9.42 ฿314

22.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 QAR 7.98

$2.68 ฿89.2

-18.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 QAR 6.49

$1.09 ฿36.28

63.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 QAR 5.45

$1.62 ฿53.8

-7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 QAR 1.95

$1.46 ฿48.61

-63.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 QAR 2.09

$1.28 ฿42.54

-55.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 QAR 2.08

$1.06 ฿35.21

-46.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 QAR 5.26

$0.72 ฿23.88

101.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 QAR 1.99

$0.53 ฿17.51

3.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$9.40 QAR 34.22

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 QAR 6.99

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 QAR 8.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.66 QAR 24.26

$4.23 ฿141

57.45%

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

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 QAR 7.07

$1.17 ฿39.04

65.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 QAR 7.62

$0.58 ฿19.25

260.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.50 QAR 49.16

$2.39 ฿79.4

464.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 QAR 1.98

$1.45 ฿48.28

-62.76%

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

$27.1K QAR 98.8K

$21.0K ฿699.5K

29.12%

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

$22.2K QAR 80.7K

$26.4K ฿879.7K

-16.10%

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

$87.5 QAR 319

$63.7 ฿2,119

37.50%

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

$35.88 QAR 131

$12.89 ฿429

178.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.8 QAR 312

$20.52 ฿683

318.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$12.29 QAR 44.73

$6.58 ฿219

86.78%

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

$680 QAR 2,474

$784 ฿26.1K

-13.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,957 QAR 36.2K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-32.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 QAR 224

$55.1 ฿1,835

11.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 QAR 189

$24.74 ฿824

110.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 QAR 389

$94.1 ฿3,133

13.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.6 QAR 319

$74.0 ฿2,462

18.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,357 QAR 4,941

$602 ฿20.0K

125.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

5.57

5.57%

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

Last update for Lusail: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 126% higher in Lusail, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Lusail versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $209 in Lusail vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Lusail 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Lusail, 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 $1,140 per month in Lusail and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Lusail and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lusail, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Lusail it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lusail costs $760 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Lusail. 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.