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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $329 per month in Sabratha vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $545 per month in Sabratha vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $761 per month in Sabratha vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sabratha is about 62% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sabratha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sabratha 75% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72 LYD 30.09
$1.96 ฿65.8
140.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 LYD 116
$18.35 ฿617
-0.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.62 LYD 23.09
$7.48 ฿252
-51.60%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.56 LYD 3.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LYD 4.23
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.52 LYD 3.30
$2.02 ฿67.8
-74.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 LYD 3.13
$0.85 ฿28.50
-42.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10 LYD 0.62
$0.36 ฿11.96
-72.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14 ฿71.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59 ฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 LYD 6.57
$1.65 ฿55.5
-37.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 LYD 1.47
$1.57 ฿52.7
-85.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 LYD 7.60
$1.19 ฿40.02
-
Eggs
$1.44 LYD 9.19
$1.94 ฿65.1
-25.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.97 LYD 31.66
$16.19 ฿544
-69.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 LYD 20.90
$2.99 ฿101
9.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.12 LYD 64.5
$10.94 ฿368
-7.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 LYD 14.05
$2.71 ฿91.2
-18.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 LYD 8.55
$1.17 ฿39.25
14.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.75 LYD 4.79
$1.69 ฿56.7
-55.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 LYD 3.32
$1.60 ฿54.0
-67.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 LYD 4.35
$1.38 ฿46.54
-50.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 LYD 3.37
$1.20 ฿40.45
-55.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 LYD 2.48
$0.67 ฿22.50
-41.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 LYD 1.40
$0.56 ฿18.73
-60.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.23 LYD 7.86
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LYD 4.56
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LYD 4.20
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 LYD 11.97
$4.64 ฿156
-59.48%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.62 ฿593
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ฿62.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30 ฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.88 ฿29.68
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.34 ฿650
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 LYD 6.01
$1.36 ฿45.90
-30.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 LYD 5.66
$1.34 ฿44.98
-33.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 LYD 28.53
$8.21 ฿276
-45.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.17
$1.22 ฿41.18
-97.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K LYD 89.2K
$21.4K ฿718.1K
-34.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.2K LYD 103.3K
$22.5K ฿757.7K
-28.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.71 LYD 202
$70.7 ฿2,376
-55.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.99 LYD 50.9
$14.04 ฿472
-43.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.19 LYD 148
$17.49 ฿588
32.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$42.15 ฿1,417
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.50 LYD 28.67
$5.92 ฿199
-23.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.2 LYD 339
$309 ฿10.4K
-82.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$913 LYD 5,813
$14.9K ฿500.4K
-93.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.31 LYD 136
$55.8 ฿1,875
-61.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.64 LYD 227
$26.11 ฿878
36.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.9 LYD 324
$83.0 ฿2,792
-38.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8 LYD 362
$70.5 ฿2,369
-19.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$432 ฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$239 ฿8,035
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$822 ฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$512 ฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$282 LYD 1,794
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-85.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$190 LYD 1,210
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-87.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$189 LYD 1,202
$579 ฿19.5K
-67.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
17.5
5
250.00%

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

Last update for Sabratha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 207% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Sabratha versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $243 – making Sabratha the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Sabratha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sabratha or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 162% more than Sabratha, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Sabratha and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $493 per month in Sabratha and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Sabratha and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Sabratha and $18.00 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 Sabratha or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 108% 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 $800/month in Sabratha or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $329 in Sabratha and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sabratha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sabratha costs $329 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sabratha 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 Sabratha or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sabratha. 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.

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