🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,014 in Casablanca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,561 in Casablanca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $2,108 in Casablanca.
🙂Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 15% less than in Casablanca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai35% lower, Casablanca24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$5.57MAD 51.3
-65.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$32.50MAD 299
-42.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$8.00MAD 73.7
-2.25%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$2.30MAD 21.17
-15.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.68MAD 6.30
25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.47MAD 4.28
-25.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$3.79MAD 34.92
-43.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$4.47MAD 41.20
-16.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.93MAD 8.60
83.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.77MAD 7.07
111.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.93MAD 17.76
-40.93%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$2.00MAD 18.42
-3.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$11.50MAD 106
40.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$7.44MAD 68.6
-58.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$11.75MAD 108
-7.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$1.84MAD 16.96
49.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.59MAD 14.66
-23.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$0.86MAD 7.89
88.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.81MAD 7.48
96.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.77MAD 7.14
81.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.74MAD 6.86
58.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$0.45MAD 4.15
46.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.58MAD 5.36
-8.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$4.38MAD 40.32
7.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$8.26MAD 76.1
125.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$2.79MAD 25.69
-35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.92MAD 26.88
10.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$0.74MAD 6.81
21.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$25.24MAD 232
-23.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$0.91MAD 8.42
54.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.82MAD 7.58
57.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$5.40MAD 49.75
45.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.46MAD 13.44
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$36.7KMAD 338.3K
-42.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$29.1KMAD 268.1K
-23.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$49.48MAD 456
39.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$12.14MAD 112
15.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$42.05MAD 387
-57.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$29.44MAD 271
39.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$41.26MAD 380
-83.13%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$8.87MAD 81.7
-33.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$207MAD 1,911
44.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$5,466MAD 50.3K
173.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$66.7MAD 614
-17.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$54.5MAD 502
-50.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$110MAD 1,012
-22.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$92.5MAD 852
-23.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$590MAD 5,436
-27.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$346MAD 3,184
-31.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$1,117MAD 10.3K
-28.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$582MAD 5,363
-11.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$2,245MAD 20.7K
-12.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$1,217MAD 11.2K
21.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Casablanca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$640MAD 5,893
-3.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.29
-5.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Casablanca: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $590 in Casablanca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Casablanca pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $33.00 in Casablanca. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $215, with Casablanca cheaper for home cooking.
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 Casablanca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casablanca cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Casablanca?
On paper, Casablanca earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Casablanca?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $590 in Casablanca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or Casablanca?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $33.00 in Casablanca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai vs Casablanca?
All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,014 in Casablanca – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Casablanca?
At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,014 in Casablanca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Casablanca. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Casablanca more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Casablanca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Casablanca?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Casablanca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Casablanca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared