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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $900 per month in Sanaa vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,466 per month in Sanaa vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,032 per month in Sanaa vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sanaa costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sanaa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sanaa 33% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.11 YER 1,455

$1.94 ฿63.5

214.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 YER 5,440

$18.64 ฿609

22.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 YER 2,418

$7.82 ฿255

29.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 YER 432

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 YER 430

Cappuccino

$3.72 YER 888

$1.95 ฿63.8

90.77%

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

$1.14 YER 273

$0.85 ฿27.77

34.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 YER 110

$0.35 ฿11.58

31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 YER 455

$1.71 ฿56.0

11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 YER 287

$1.63 ฿53.2

-26.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 YER 589

$1.14 ฿37.15

116.67%

Eggs

$4.03 YER 959

$1.93 ฿63.1

108.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 YER 2,350

$16.21 ฿530

-39.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 YER 1,625

$3.12 ฿102

118.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.15 YER 4,563

$10.90 ฿356

75.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 YER 933

$2.75 ฿90.0

42.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 YER 344

$1.21 ฿39.52

19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 YER 574

$1.62 ฿53.0

48.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 YER 391

$1.59 ฿51.8

3.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 YER 405

$1.40 ฿45.70

21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 YER 374

$1.17 ฿38.17

34.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 YER 151

$0.66 ฿21.60

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 YER 176

$0.53 ฿17.22

39.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 YER 782

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 YER 394

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 YER 772

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 YER 932

$4.69 ฿153

-16.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

$0.90 ฿29.26

-53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 YER 19.6K

$19.21 ฿628

327.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 YER 1,004

$1.41 ฿45.91

198.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.99 YER 952

$1.29 ฿42.12

209.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 YER 1,745

$7.84 ฿256

-6.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.68 YER 640

$1.27 ฿41.58

111.02%

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

$16.4K YER 3.9M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

-22.76%

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

$33.5K YER 8.0M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

50.90%

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

$72.3 YER 17.2K

$69.1 ฿2,256

4.72%

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

$13.70 YER 3,266

$14.08 ฿460

-2.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.45 YER 9,163

$18.00 ฿588

113.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 YER 15.9K

$41.06 ฿1,341

62.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 YER 3,975

$6.96 ฿227

139.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 YER 1,405

$5.92 ฿193

-0.34%

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

$116 YER 27.5K

$299 ฿9,766

-61.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,808 YER 430.7K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-87.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.29 YER 9,363

$54.7 ฿1,787

-28.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$148 YER 35.2K

$26.77 ฿874

452.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.65 YER 9,924

$85.0 ฿2,776

-50.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.36 YER 10.1K

$70.6 ฿2,306

-40.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 YER 39.8K

$428 ฿14.0K

-60.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 YER 22.7K

$237 ฿7,752

-59.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 YER 97.8K

$801 ฿26.2K

-48.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 YER 63.2K

$515 ฿16.8K

-48.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 YER 982.5K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

108.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$819 YER 195.1K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-44.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.5K

$617 ฿20.2K

-69.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

125.00%

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

Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Sanaa versus $428 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 223% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $23.00 in Sanaa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Sanaa vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Sanaa 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

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

Sanaa costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,350 per month in Sanaa and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Sanaa and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Sanaa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $900 in Sanaa and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $900 in Sanaa. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sanaa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.