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

😐 Solo nomad: Salmiya is 23.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 63.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Salmiya is 27.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 69.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.81 KWD 2.70
$2.03 ฿64.2
333.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.28 KWD 15.13
$18.59 ฿588
165.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 KWD 2.34
$7.48 ฿237
2.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 KWD 0.49
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 KWD 0.49
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.02 KWD 1.54
$2.00 ฿63.2
151.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 KWD 0.13
$0.85 ฿26.81
-50.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 KWD 0.10
$0.35 ฿11.13
-8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21 ฿70.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.76 ฿119
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 KWD 0.50
$1.72 ฿54.4
-5.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 KWD 0.25
$1.63 ฿51.7
-49.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 KWD 0.53
$1.16 ฿36.66
50.00%
Eggs
$1.89 KWD 0.58
$1.98 ฿62.6
-4.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.10 KWD 1.57
$15.93 ฿504
-67.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.42 KWD 1.97
$3.17 ฿100
102.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.76 KWD 2.69
$10.90 ฿345
-19.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 KWD 0.71
$2.65 ฿83.7
-12.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 KWD 0.50
$1.22 ฿38.70
34.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 KWD 0.53
$1.70 ฿53.7
1.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.43 KWD 0.44
$1.59 ฿50.3
-10.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 KWD 0.39
$1.32 ฿41.90
-3.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 KWD 0.39
$1.17 ฿36.99
8.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 KWD 0.50
$0.68 ฿21.46
136.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 KWD 0.14
$0.56 ฿17.64
-17.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.91 KWD 0.89
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 KWD 0.91
$4.51 ฿143
-34.15%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.07 ฿604
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77 ฿56.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 ฿101
-
🚌 Getting Around
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 KWD 0.32
$0.96 ฿30.47
7.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.65 KWD 14.94
$18.90 ฿598
157.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 KWD 1.00
$1.36 ฿42.98
138.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.27 KWD 1.00
$1.35 ฿42.80
142.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.02 KWD 4.00
$8.03 ฿254
62.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 KWD 0.10
$1.24 ฿39.34
-73.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K KWD 5,910
$21.2K ฿669.8K
-9.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K KWD 6,073
$21.8K ฿688.5K
-9.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.9 KWD 16.86
$71.2 ฿2,255
-22.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.34 KWD 5.63
$14.09 ฿446
30.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.20 KWD 8.04
$17.47 ฿553
49.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$106 KWD 32.67
$42.07 ฿1,332
152.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.91 KWD 10.10
$6.88 ฿218
378.34%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 KWD 3.50
$5.94 ฿188
92.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$402 KWD 124
$307 ฿9,728
30.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,570 KWD 1,710
$14.8K ฿468.2K
-62.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.42 KWD 12.72
$55.7 ฿1,762
-25.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.82 KWD 12.84
$26.79 ฿848
56.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 KWD 26.98
$83.2 ฿2,634
5.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8 KWD 25.43
$70.1 ฿2,219
18.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$884 KWD 271
$427 ฿13.5K
106.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 KWD 205
$237 ฿7,504
181.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,669 KWD 819
$802 ฿25.4K
232.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 KWD 406
$503 ฿15.9K
162.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,061 ฿65.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,533 ฿48.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salmiya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,455 KWD 447
$654 ฿20.7K
122.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.14
5
42.80%

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

Last update for Salmiya: 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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