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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$4.36 MAD 40.68

-55.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.14 MAD 234

-27.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.97 MAD 46.37

50.50%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.76 MAD 16.37

14.77%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.46 MAD 4.26

84.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.26 MAD 2.41

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$3.79 MAD 35.36

-43.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.72 MAD 34.69

-3.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.84 MAD 7.87

96.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.49 MAD 4.57

220.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.65 MAD 15.43

-27.88%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.81 MAD 16.90

7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$9.24 MAD 86.1

75.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.29 MAD 49.31

-43.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.42 MAD 107

-4.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.42 MAD 13.21

90.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.22 MAD 11.42

-4.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.72 MAD 6.69

134.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.88 MAD 8.22

81.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.70 MAD 6.52

97.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.91 MAD 8.48

31.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.39 MAD 3.66

71.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.53 MAD 4.97

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.15 MAD 38.66

11.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.45 MAD 60.1

173.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.93 MAD 18.03

-3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.20 MAD 20.52

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.87 MAD 8.11

1.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$16.46 MAD 154

17.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.63 MAD 5.92

115.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.48 MAD 4.43

179.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-8.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-22.78%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

-42.54%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

6.98%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$27.86 MAD 260

153.66%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.90 MAD 130

1.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$27.94 MAD 261

-37.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$21.61 MAD 202

95.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$22.76 MAD 212

-69.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.65 MAD 62.0

-10.98%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$75.3 MAD 702

309.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

660.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$30.88 MAD 288

80.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$39.68 MAD 370

-34.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$49.28 MAD 460

68.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$44.34 MAD 413

58.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$388 MAD 3,617

11.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$346 MAD 3,229

-31.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$813 MAD 7,584

1.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$559 MAD 5,209

-8.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$268 MAD 2,498

116.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

-9.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $388 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 116% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Essaouira – so Essaouira 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 Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,256 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $75.3 in Essaouira. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $837 in Essaouira, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Essaouira costs $837 versus $861 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.