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

😐 Solo nomad: Riyadh is 47.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 104% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Riyadh is 60.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 79.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.92 SAR 29.72
$2.03 ฿64.0
290.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9 SAR 198
$18.59 ฿586
184.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 SAR 29.43
$7.48 ฿236
4.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 SAR 6.59
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 SAR 8.27
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.99 SAR 14.96
$2.00 ฿63.0
99.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 SAR 2.90
$0.85 ฿26.72
-9.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 SAR 1.07
$0.35 ฿11.09
-17.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21 ฿69.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.76 ฿118
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 SAR 6.16
$1.72 ฿54.2
-4.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 SAR 4.72
$1.63 ฿51.5
-22.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 SAR 9.15
$1.16 ฿36.54
110.34%
Eggs
$2.74 SAR 10.28
$1.98 ฿62.4
38.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.24 SAR 30.89
$15.93 ฿502
-48.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.10 SAR 37.88
$3.17 ฿99.9
218.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 SAR 55.3
$10.90 ฿344
35.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 SAR 8.64
$2.65 ฿83.4
-13.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 SAR 6.40
$1.22 ฿38.57
40.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 SAR 6.68
$1.70 ฿53.5
4.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 SAR 5.75
$1.59 ฿50.2
-3.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 SAR 4.86
$1.32 ฿41.76
-1.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 SAR 5.65
$1.17 ฿36.86
29.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 SAR 5.42
$0.68 ฿21.38
113.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 SAR 1.92
$0.56 ฿17.58
-8.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$8.14 SAR 30.53
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 SAR 6.45
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 SAR 9.07
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.50 SAR 28.14
$4.51 ฿142
66.30%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.07 ฿602
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77 ฿55.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 ฿100
-
🚌 Getting Around
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 SAR 3.90
$0.96 ฿30.37
8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.86 SAR 138
$18.90 ฿596
95.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 SAR 11.69
$1.36 ฿42.83
129.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 SAR 7.17
$1.35 ฿42.65
41.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.17 SAR 49.40
$8.03 ฿253
64.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.23
$1.24 ฿39.20
-51.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K SAR 131.1K
$21.2K ฿667.5K
65.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K SAR 88.6K
$21.8K ฿686.1K
8.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 SAR 395
$71.2 ฿2,247
47.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.86 SAR 131
$14.09 ฿444
147.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7 SAR 284
$17.47 ฿551
333.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$104 SAR 390
$42.07 ฿1,327
147.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$58.2 SAR 218
$6.88 ฿217
746.08%
Cinema Ticket
$16.02 SAR 60.1
$5.94 ฿187
169.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 SAR 1,745
$307 ฿9,694
51.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,705 SAR 36.4K
$14.8K ฿466.6K
-34.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 SAR 223
$55.7 ฿1,756
6.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.7 SAR 239
$26.79 ฿845
137.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 SAR 401
$83.2 ฿2,625
28.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.0 SAR 367
$70.1 ฿2,211
39.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,091 SAR 4,089
$427 ฿13.5K
155.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$848 SAR 3,180
$237 ฿7,478
257.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,067 SAR 7,753
$802 ฿25.3K
157.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 SAR 4,168
$503 ฿15.9K
120.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,924 SAR 11.0K
$2,061 ฿65.0K
41.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,908 SAR 7,155
$1,533 ฿48.3K
24.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Riyadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,382 SAR 8,931
$654 ฿20.6K
264.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.31
5
6.20%

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

Last update for Riyadh: March 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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