Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Jadida Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Jadida

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $651 in El Jadida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $967 in El Jadida, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,282 in El Jadida, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and El Jadida are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, El Jadida 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.87 MAD 27.01

-26.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$21.20 MAD 199

-6.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.21 MAD 58.4

-6.76%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.59 MAD 14.96

15.09%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.47 MAD 4.43

65.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.29 MAD 2.68

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.79 MAD 26.24

-16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.63 MAD 24.67

40.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.96 MAD 9.01

111.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.42 MAD 3.92

280.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.97 MAD 18.53

-27.92%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.94 MAD 18.19

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.56 MAD 61.6

142.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.20 MAD 39.49

-26.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.20 MAD 77.0

20.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.59 MAD 14.94

65.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.47 MAD 13.84

-25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.72 MAD 6.74

126.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.67 MAD 6.32

128.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.69 MAD 6.46

79.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.48 MAD 4.48

135.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.33 MAD 3.14

124.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.54 MAD 5.07

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.98 MAD 37.44

7.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$4.15 MAD 38.99

333.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.61 MAD 24.52

-34.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.02 MAD 28.42

-3.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.47 MAD 4.38

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$17.20 MAD 162

221.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.08 MAD 10.17

13.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.09 MAD 10.25

-51.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$5.46 MAD 51.3

-56.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.56 MAD 14.65

-7.69%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.9K MAD 327.8K

-39.24%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$31.2K MAD 293.1K

-12.45%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$29.29 MAD 275

121.68%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.52 MAD 98.9

26.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$32.46 MAD 305

-35.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$29.84 MAD 280

35.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$12.61 MAD 118

-68.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.58 MAD 61.8

1.98%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$116 MAD 1,086

580.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,239 MAD 30.4K

366.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$28.85 MAD 271

94.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$37.71 MAD 354

-33.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$66.7 MAD 627

38.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$74.0 MAD 695

1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$211 MAD 1,987

128.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$173 MAD 1,624

66.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$369 MAD 3,465

146.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$237 MAD 2,227

123.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,570 MAD 14.8K

26.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$818 MAD 7,688

77.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$482 MAD 4,530

25.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.5

1.27%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Jadida: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $211 in El Jadida. 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 26% 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 $21.00 in El Jadida. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $156 in El Jadida – so El Jadida 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 El Jadida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than El Jadida, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $977 in El Jadida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 in El Jadida. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Chiang Mai, 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 El Jadida, where all-in costs run around $651, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In El Jadida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. El Jadida costs $651 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 El Jadida. 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.