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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Guelmim, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Guelmim, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,298 in Guelmim, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Guelmim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Guelmim are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Guelmim 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$5.43 MAD 51.5

-61.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$25.09 MAD 238

-21.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.28 MAD 69.1

-22.12%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.08 MAD 19.72

-12.98%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.89 MAD 8.41

-13.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.35 MAD 3.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$5.30 MAD 50.3

-58.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.55 MAD 43.13

-16.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.90 MAD 8.49

127.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.46 MAD 4.35

228.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.05 MAD 9.93

33.33%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.66 MAD 15.75

36.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$8.43 MAD 79.9

92.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.34 MAD 31.63

-13.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.03 MAD 85.6

4.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.26 MAD 11.99

112.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.20 MAD 11.41

-9.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.88 MAD 8.31

84.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.65 MAD 6.18

124.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.61 MAD 5.79

109.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.60 MAD 5.71

76.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.59 MAD 5.63

22.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.56 MAD 5.29

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.29 MAD 40.69

-1.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$11.83 MAD 112

54.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.28 MAD 12.16

27.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$1.36 MAD 12.88

113.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.75 MAD 7.11

17.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$18.97 MAD 180

183.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.64 MAD 6.10

82.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.61 MAD 5.79

-4.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$6.15 MAD 58.4

-61.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.41 MAD 13.35

2.84%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.7K MAD 329.3K

-39.50%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$30.0K MAD 284.7K

-11.98%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$24.09 MAD 228

164.22%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$10.64 MAD 101

21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$21.14 MAD 201

-2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$26.08 MAD 247

49.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$21.55 MAD 204

-81.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.39 MAD 51.1

22.08%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$69.9 MAD 663

1021.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,925 MAD 18.3K

662.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$18.66 MAD 177

195.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$15.60 MAD 148

58.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$59.5 MAD 564

58.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$31.75 MAD 301

132.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$193 MAD 1,826

154.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$115 MAD 1,087

151.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$331 MAD 3,138

169.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$226 MAD 2,143

130.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,236 MAD 11.7K

59.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$853 MAD 8,089

69.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$320 MAD 3,036

87.91%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Guelmim: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $193 in Guelmim. 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 88% 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 $25.00 in Guelmim. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $159 in Guelmim – so Guelmim 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 Guelmim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than Guelmim, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $856 in Guelmim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $69.9 in Guelmim. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 Guelmim, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Guelmim 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. Guelmim costs $571 versus $932 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 Guelmim. 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.