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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $686 in Fes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,390 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,062 in Fes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,438 in Fes, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Fes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Fes are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Fes 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 ฿68.1

$3.24 MAD 30.12

-36.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.99 ฿661

$32.76 MAD 305

-38.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 ฿190

$6.39 MAD 59.4

-10.33%

Cappuccino

$1.71 ฿56.4

$1.35 MAD 12.59

26.67%

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

$0.73 ฿24.27

$0.55 MAD 5.15

32.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.06

$0.44 MAD 4.07

-31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿80.6

$3.65 MAD 33.98

-33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 ฿127

$4.31 MAD 40.11

-10.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ฿64.3

$0.82 MAD 7.61

136.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 ฿53.1

$0.61 MAD 5.64

163.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.07

$1.87 MAD 17.38

-28.88%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿73.2

$1.90 MAD 17.68

16.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.29 ฿506

$10.47 MAD 97.3

46.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.80 ฿92.6

$4.65 MAD 43.20

-39.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿356

$9.44 MAD 87.7

14.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 ฿81.5

$1.93 MAD 17.90

27.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.09

$1.31 MAD 12.21

-16.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 ฿51.5

$0.80 MAD 7.44

95.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿49.83

$0.96 MAD 8.94

57.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 ฿41.82

$0.79 MAD 7.31

59.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.13

$0.97 MAD 9.02

9.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.53

$0.47 MAD 4.35

51.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.44

$0.61 MAD 5.71

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 ฿139

$4.52 MAD 42.03

-6.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.47 ฿545

$4.68 MAD 43.48

251.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ฿56.7

$2.82 MAD 26.23

-39.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿94.1

$3.29 MAD 30.56

-13.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.76

$0.45 MAD 4.18

106.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.6 ฿1,772

$10.70 MAD 99.5

400.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ฿39.41

$0.66 MAD 6.12

80.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 ฿18.07

$0.78 MAD 7.21

-29.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ฿81.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.21

$1.48 MAD 13.81

0.68%

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

$21.1K ฿697.7K

$36.1K MAD 335.8K

-41.59%

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

$27.4K ฿904.9K

$35.5K MAD 330.5K

-23.02%

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

$64.5 ฿2,131

$34.50 MAD 321

86.81%

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

$13.08 ฿433

$10.47 MAD 97.4

24.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.72 ฿652

$37.62 MAD 350

-47.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.94 ฿1,288

$27.12 MAD 252

43.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.96 ฿131

$19.57 MAD 182

-79.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.81 ฿225

$5.21 MAD 48.44

30.71%

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

$795 ฿26.3K

$97.9 MAD 910

712.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿488.7K

$6,620 MAD 61.6K

123.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$19.63 MAD 183

186.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.71 ฿850

$55.2 MAD 513

-53.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,028

$87.3 MAD 811

4.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 ฿2,414

$58.2 MAD 542

25.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$326 MAD 3,035

48.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$281 ฿9,285

$189 MAD 1,758

48.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 ฿29.7K

$574 MAD 5,334

56.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿17.0K

$253 MAD 2,354

103.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,009 ฿66.5K

$762 MAD 7,087

163.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,458 ฿48.2K

$354 MAD 3,292

311.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$594 ฿19.6K

$504 MAD 4,683

17.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 10, 2026

Last update for Fes: August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $326 in Fes. 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 18% 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 $33.00 in Fes. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $181 in Fes – so Fes 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 Fes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Fes, 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 $1,368 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,029 in Fes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $795 per month in Chiang Mai and $97.9 in Fes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 Fes, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Chiang Mai at $912. In Fes 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. Fes costs $686 versus $912 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 Fes. 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.