Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $816 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,214 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,613 in Essaouira, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Essaouira 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$4.80 MAD 44.90

-56.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$19.41 MAD 182

1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.75 MAD 72.5

-27.10%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.48 MAD 13.82

22.30%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.48 MAD 4.51

47.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.39 MAD 3.68

-17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$5.24 MAD 49.03

-57.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.57 MAD 42.76

-20.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.90 MAD 8.45

117.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.51 MAD 4.81

194.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.82 MAD 17.01

-26.37%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.69 MAD 15.80

33.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$8.60 MAD 80.5

89.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.26 MAD 58.5

-52.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$10.96 MAD 103

-9.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.31 MAD 12.29

96.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.18 MAD 11.04

-10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.69 MAD 6.43

133.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.80 MAD 7.50

90.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.57 MAD 5.37

122.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.72 MAD 6.75

48.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.36 MAD 3.38

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.61 MAD 5.73

-16.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.98 MAD 37.24

5.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$6.56 MAD 61.3

172.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.83 MAD 17.13

-7.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.20 MAD 20.54

29.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.88 MAD 8.24

5.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.66 MAD 6.20

86.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.64 MAD 5.96

-9.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.50 MAD 14.04

-6.00%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

-39.52%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

-11.18%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$25.43 MAD 238

150.37%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$18.07 MAD 169

-28.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$30.61 MAD 286

-33.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.49 MAD 51.4

22.77%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$71.3 MAD 667

990.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

661.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$30.05 MAD 281

80.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$45.60 MAD 427

-44.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$61.7 MAD 577

52.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$42.99 MAD 402

70.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$406 MAD 3,801

20.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$356 MAD 3,331

-18.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$970 MAD 9,072

-7.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$594 MAD 5,555

-12.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$268 MAD 2,508

124.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.5

-14.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $406 in Essaouira. 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 125% 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 $19.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $177 – making Essaouira 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

Chiang Mai vs Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 16% more than Essaouira, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,224 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $19.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Essaouira 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. Essaouira costs $816 versus $947 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 Essaouira. 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.