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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,428 per month in Sohar vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Sohar vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,820 per month in Sohar vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sohar costs about 66% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sohar sits 7% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.65 OMR 2.56

$1.96 ฿65.9

239.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 OMR 8.11

$18.35 ฿617

14.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 OMR 3.51

$7.48 ฿252

21.93%

Cappuccino

$7.01 OMR 2.70

$2.02 ฿67.8

247.03%

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

$0.64 OMR 0.25

$0.85 ฿28.52

-24.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 OMR 0.10

$0.36 ฿11.97

-30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.09 OMR 5.04

$2.14 ฿71.9

511.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.16 OMR 5.45

$3.59 ฿121

294.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.65 ฿55.5

37.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 OMR 0.41

$1.57 ฿52.7

-32.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 OMR 1.28

$1.19 ฿40.05

179.83%

Eggs

$2.73 OMR 1.05

$1.94 ฿65.1

40.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 OMR 5.26

$16.19 ฿545

-15.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.89 OMR 3.42

$2.99 ฿101

197.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.06 OMR 5.41

$10.94 ฿368

28.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 OMR 1.27

$2.71 ฿91.2

21.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 OMR 0.81

$1.17 ฿39.27

79.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$1.69 ฿56.8

52.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 OMR 0.45

$1.60 ฿54.0

-26.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 OMR 0.67

$1.38 ฿46.56

26.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$1.20 ฿40.47

52.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 OMR 0.67

$0.67 ฿22.51

159.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 OMR 0.38

$0.56 ฿18.74

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 OMR 2.25

$4.64 ฿156

26.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.86 OMR 9.95

$17.62 ฿593

46.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.96 OMR 1.52

$1.86 ฿62.6

112.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 OMR 3.38

$3.30 ฿111

166.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 OMR 1.01

$0.88 ฿29.70

197.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.3 OMR 19.74

$19.34 ฿651

165.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 OMR 1.28

$1.36 ฿45.92

145.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 OMR 0.62

$1.34 ฿45.00

19.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$8.21 ฿276

26.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 OMR 0.23

$1.22 ฿41.20

-50.82%

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

$18.2K OMR 7,016

$21.4K ฿718.5K

-14.63%

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

$20.6K OMR 7,923

$22.5K ฿758.1K

-8.64%

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

$102 OMR 39.11

$70.7 ฿2,378

43.78%

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

$29.28 OMR 11.27

$14.04 ฿472

108.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.1 OMR 33.53

$17.49 ฿589

398.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 OMR 20.15

$42.15 ฿1,418

24.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$11.69 OMR 4.50

$5.92 ฿199

97.47%

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

$267 OMR 103

$309 ฿10.4K

-13.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,155 OMR 2,754

$14.9K ฿500.7K

-51.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 OMR 19.48

$55.8 ฿1,876

-9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.88 OMR 16.89

$26.11 ฿879

68.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 OMR 30.88

$83.0 ฿2,793

-3.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.41 OMR 17.86

$70.5 ฿2,371

-34.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 OMR 191

$432 ฿14.5K

14.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 OMR 148

$239 ฿8,040

60.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 OMR 300

$822 ฿27.7K

-5.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$683 OMR 263

$512 ฿17.2K

33.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,184 OMR 456

$1,915 ฿64.4K

-38.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$775 OMR 298

$1,467 ฿49.4K

-47.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 OMR 965

$579 ฿19.5K

332.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

12.40%

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

Last update for Sohar: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $497 in Sohar versus $432 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 333% higher in Sohar, 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 $21.00 in Sohar versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai 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

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

Sohar costs about 66% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,142 per month in Sohar and $1,292 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 $267 per month in Sohar and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Sohar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Sohar at $1,428. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sohar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,428 in Sohar. 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, Sohar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.