😐A single person spends $1,647 per month in Tubli vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,506 per month in Tubli vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,365 per month in Tubli vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Tubli costs about 90% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Tubli sits 23% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.44BHD 2.43
$1.94฿63.5
231.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5BHD 20.17
$18.64฿609
186.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.51BHD 2.83
$7.82฿255
-3.96%
Cappuccino
$2.58BHD 0.97
$1.95฿63.8
32.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83BHD 0.31
$0.85฿27.77
-2.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26BHD 0.10
$0.35฿11.58
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.89BHD 2.97
$2.13฿69.6
270.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.69BHD 4.03
$3.73฿122
186.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71BHD 0.65
$1.71฿56.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.09BHD 0.41
$1.63฿53.2
-33.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32BHD 0.87
$1.14฿37.15
103.51%
Eggs
$2.50BHD 0.94
$1.93฿63.1
29.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.93BHD 3.37
$16.21฿530
-44.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.59BHD 2.86
$3.12฿102
143.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.34BHD 3.90
$10.90฿356
-5.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36BHD 0.89
$2.75฿90.0
-14.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09BHD 0.79
$1.21฿39.52
72.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75BHD 0.66
$1.62฿53.0
8.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17BHD 0.44
$1.59฿51.8
-26.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90BHD 0.34
$1.40฿45.70
-35.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09BHD 0.41
$1.17฿38.17
-6.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51BHD 0.57
$0.66฿21.60
128.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89BHD 0.33
$0.53฿17.22
67.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54BHD 2.47
$4.69฿153
39.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.30BHD 6.90
$18.66฿609
-1.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35BHD 1.26
$1.80฿58.8
86.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26BHD 1.23
$3.23฿106
0.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58BHD 0.59
$0.90฿29.26
75.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.8BHD 19.90
$19.21฿628
174.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.76BHD 1.79
$1.41฿45.91
237.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.96BHD 1.49
$1.29฿42.12
206.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.41BHD 9.96
$7.84฿256
236.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.56BHD 0.21
$1.27฿41.58
-55.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KBHD 13.8K
$21.3K฿694.9K
71.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5KBHD 7,715
$22.2K฿725.4K
-7.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.5BHD 34.86
$69.1฿2,256
33.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.58BHD 10.02
$14.08฿460
88.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.39BHD 14.47
$18.00฿588
113.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$162BHD 61.1
$41.06฿1,341
294.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$77.9BHD 29.35
$6.96฿227
1018.68%
Cinema Ticket
$10.49BHD 3.96
$5.92฿193
77.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394BHD 149
$299฿9,766
31.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,049BHD 1,526
$15.0K฿488.3K
-72.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.67BHD 17.59
$54.7฿1,787
-14.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.5BHD 23.96
$26.77฿874
137.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2BHD 31.38
$85.0฿2,776
-2.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3BHD 29.89
$70.6฿2,306
12.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014BHD 382
$428฿14.0K
136.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668BHD 252
$237฿7,752
181.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,613BHD 608
$801฿26.2K
101.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193BHD 450
$515฿16.8K
131.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tubli
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.56
5
71.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tubli: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Tubli 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Tubli versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $246 – 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 90% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,471 per month in Tubli and $1,300 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $394 per month in Tubli and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 6% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Tubli at $1,647. 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 $866 versus $1,647 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 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.