😐A single person spends $1,586 per month in Tubli vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,547 per month in Tubli vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,508 per month in Tubli vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tubli costs about 67% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Tubli sits 15% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61BHD 2.49
$2.10฿69.3
214.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5BHD 20.15
$19.84฿656
169.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.38BHD 2.78
$5.79฿191
27.46%
Cappuccino
$2.58BHD 0.97
$1.83฿60.4
40.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77BHD 0.29
$0.78฿25.61
-1.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26BHD 0.10
$0.31฿10.37
-16.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.72BHD 2.53
$2.34฿77.2
187.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.06BHD 3.79
$3.70฿122
171.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43BHD 0.54
$2.03฿67.1
-29.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04BHD 0.39
$1.60฿52.7
-35.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27BHD 0.86
$1.42฿46.75
59.86%
Eggs
$2.22BHD 0.84
$2.18฿71.9
1.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82BHD 3.33
$15.91฿526
-44.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.59BHD 2.48
$3.07฿102
114.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.78BHD 3.31
$9.87฿326
-11.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29BHD 0.86
$2.63฿86.8
-12.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31BHD 0.87
$1.10฿36.19
110.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BHD 0.73
$1.63฿53.8
18.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44BHD 0.54
$1.53฿50.6
-5.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05BHD 0.40
$1.24฿41.13
-15.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36BHD 0.51
$1.13฿37.37
20.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51BHD 0.57
$0.74฿24.38
104.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79BHD 0.30
$0.50฿16.48
58.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35BHD 2.02
$4.28฿141
25.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87BHD 7.11
$17.97฿594
5.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62BHD 1.37
$1.70฿56.1
112.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60BHD 0.98
$2.90฿95.7
-10.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62BHD 0.61
$0.94฿31.13
72.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.2BHD 20.05
$55.3฿1,827
-3.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.43BHD 2.05
$1.23฿40.76
341.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.39BHD 1.28
$0.53฿17.66
539.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.00BHD 6.03
$2.40฿79.3
566.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66BHD 0.25
$1.44฿47.55
-54.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KBHD 13.9K
$21.2K฿700.2K
73.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KBHD 7,636
$27.3K฿902.1K
-25.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.9BHD 34.63
$64.9฿2,145
41.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.67BHD 9.30
$13.35฿441
84.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.71BHD 13.08
$20.83฿688
66.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$160BHD 60.3
$40.42฿1,336
295.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$196BHD 73.9
$3.95฿131
4863.54%
Cinema Ticket
$10.79BHD 4.07
$6.71฿222
60.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$485BHD 183
$787฿26.0K
-38.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,956BHD 1,491
$15.1K฿499.6K
-73.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5BHD 19.05
$56.2฿1,858
-10.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5BHD 21.30
$24.95฿824
126.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0BHD 32.79
$92.7฿3,063
-6.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4BHD 29.54
$75.1฿2,482
4.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,008BHD 380
$484฿16.0K
108.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$656BHD 247
$287฿9,491
128.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566BHD 590
$910฿30.1K
72.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,178BHD 444
$531฿17.5K
122.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.21
5.57
11.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tubli: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,008 in Tubli 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Tubli versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $242 – 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
Tubli vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tubli or Chiang Mai?
Tubli costs about 67% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 Tubli and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,380 per month in Tubli 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, Tubli or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Tubli and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $485 per month in Tubli and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tubli or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Tubli, 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 Tubli or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Tubli at $1,586. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tubli it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tubli or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,586 in Tubli. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tubli 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 Tubli or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tubli makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.