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 $401 per month in Sabratha vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $595 per month in Sabratha vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $789 per month in Sabratha vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sabratha is about 58% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sabratha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sabratha 71% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 LYD 19.82
$2.10 ฿69.3
49.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.28 LYD 58.6
$19.84 ฿656
-53.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$1.61 LYD 10.18
$5.79 ฿191
-72.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.61 LYD 3.82
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 LYD 4.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.47 LYD 2.98
$1.83 ฿60.4
-74.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 LYD 1.87
$0.78 ฿25.61
-61.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.08 LYD 0.49
$0.31 ฿10.37
-74.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.34 ฿77.2
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.70 ฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 LYD 5.94
$2.03 ฿67.1
-53.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.22 LYD 1.39
$1.60 ฿52.7
-86.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 LYD 7.14
$1.42 ฿46.75
-20.42%
Eggs
$1.35 LYD 8.49
$2.18 ฿71.9
-38.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.98 LYD 31.44
$15.91 ฿526
-68.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 LYD 20.55
$3.07 ฿102
6.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 LYD 60.6
$9.87 ฿326
-2.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 LYD 12.63
$2.63 ฿86.8
-23.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 LYD 9.80
$1.10 ฿36.19
40.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 LYD 4.83
$1.63 ฿53.8
-52.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 LYD 3.24
$1.53 ฿50.6
-66.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 LYD 2.89
$1.24 ฿41.13
-62.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.32 LYD 2.05
$1.13 ฿37.37
-71.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.32 LYD 2.03
$0.74 ฿24.38
-56.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.15 LYD 0.92
$0.50 ฿16.48
-70.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.85 LYD 11.65
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 LYD 6.74
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 LYD 5.03
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85 LYD 11.67
$4.28 ฿141
-56.78%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.97 ฿594
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70 ฿56.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90 ฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 LYD 5.20
$0.94 ฿31.13
-12.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 LYD 5.10
$1.23 ฿40.76
-34.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 LYD 1.89
$0.53 ฿17.66
-43.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 LYD 5.20
$2.40 ฿79.3
-65.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.02 LYD 0.14
$1.44 ฿47.55
-98.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K LYD 147.6K
$21.2K ฿700.2K
10.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2K LYD 89.6K
$27.3K ฿902.1K
-48.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.0 LYD 599
$64.9 ฿2,145
46.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.87 LYD 24.40
$13.35 ฿441
-71.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.89 LYD 87.7
$20.83 ฿688
-33.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.04 LYD 69.7
$40.42 ฿1,336
-72.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.73 LYD 48.76
$3.95 ฿131
95.70%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.71 ฿222
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.67 LYD 244
$787 ฿26.0K
-95.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$607 LYD 3,832
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-95.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.00 LYD 126
$56.2 ฿1,858
-64.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.29 LYD 109
$24.95 ฿824
-30.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.6 LYD 351
$92.7 ฿3,063
-40.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.56 LYD 98.2
$75.1 ฿2,482
-79.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$156 LYD 985
$484 ฿16.0K
-67.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.3 LYD 494
$287 ฿9,491
-72.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$240 LYD 1,518
$910 ฿30.1K
-73.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$110 LYD 696
$531 ฿17.5K
-79.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$287 LYD 1,812
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-85.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$186 LYD 1,175
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-87.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sabratha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$188 LYD 1,189
$605 ฿20.0K
-68.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Sabratha: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Sabratha versus $484 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 221% 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 $9.00 in Sabratha versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $112 vs $242 – 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 137% 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 $601 per month in Sabratha and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sabratha or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabratha, 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 Sabratha and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Sabratha 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 Sabratha or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 117% 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 $1,000/month in Sabratha or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabratha, where all-in costs run around $401, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sabratha 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, Sabratha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sabratha costs $401 versus $950 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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