Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Beni Mellal Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Beni Mellal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $633 in Beni Mellal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,001 in Beni Mellal, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,369 in Beni Mellal, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 47% more than Beni Mellal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Beni Mellal are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Beni Mellal 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.72 MAD 35.32

-44.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$26.16 MAD 248

-25.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.60 MAD 53.1

1.25%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.31 MAD 12.40

38.17%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.60 MAD 5.73

28.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.35 MAD 3.33

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.68 MAD 25.45

-17.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.09 MAD 29.29

22.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.86 MAD 8.13

138.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.64 MAD 6.05

135.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.93 MAD 18.30

-27.46%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.70 MAD 16.11

32.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$11.36 MAD 108

42.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.76 MAD 64.1

-57.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.40 MAD 98.6

-9.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.23 MAD 11.62

117.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.08 MAD 10.28

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.66 MAD 6.28

145.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.82 MAD 7.78

78.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.65 MAD 6.14

96.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.77 MAD 7.33

37.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.33 MAD 3.16

118.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.60 MAD 5.64

-11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.97 MAD 37.66

6.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.51 MAD 71.2

143.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.72 MAD 25.78

-40.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.66 MAD 25.18

9.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.33 MAD 3.15

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$8.66 MAD 82.2

520.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.77 MAD 7.26

51.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.94 MAD 8.91

-38.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.67 MAD 25.29

-10.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.54 MAD 14.63

-5.84%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.0K MAD 322.8K

-38.28%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$31.9K MAD 302.6K

-17.19%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$35.44 MAD 336

79.60%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$10.13 MAD 96.0

27.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$26.17 MAD 248

-21.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$21.23 MAD 201

83.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$15.52 MAD 147

-74.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$6.40 MAD 60.7

2.81%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$186 MAD 1,759

322.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,892 MAD 65.4K

112.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$49.10 MAD 466

12.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$45.05 MAD 427

-45.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$74.5 MAD 706

26.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$67.7 MAD 642

9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$200 MAD 1,897

145.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$130 MAD 1,232

121.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$284 MAD 2,698

213.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$200 MAD 1,900

160.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$332 MAD 3,146

81.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.52

23.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Beni Mellal: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $200 in Beni Mellal. 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 81% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Beni Mellal. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $194 in Beni Mellal – so Beni Mellal 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

Chiang Mai vs Beni Mellal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $633 in Beni Mellal – roughly 47% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $950 in Beni Mellal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 521% less in Beni Mellal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $186 in Beni Mellal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Beni Mellal, where all-in costs run around $633, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Beni Mellal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $633 in Beni Mellal to $932 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Beni Mellal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.