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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $610 in Guelmim, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $992 in Guelmim, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,374 in Guelmim, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Guelmim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Guelmim are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Guelmim 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.69 MAD 25.13

-27.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.16 MAD 235

-27.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.77 MAD 63.4

10.49%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.67 MAD 15.64

20.96%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.63 MAD 5.85

34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.28 MAD 2.64

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$3.65 MAD 34.12

-41.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.68 MAD 34.41

-2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.87 MAD 8.10

89.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.36 MAD 3.39

336.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.92 MAD 8.59

29.35%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.84 MAD 17.19

5.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.10 MAD 66.4

128.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.24 MAD 30.33

-7.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.10 MAD 94.5

8.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.35 MAD 12.66

100.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.22 MAD 11.46

-4.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.88 MAD 8.24

92.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.64 MAD 5.97

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.68 MAD 6.32

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.69 MAD 6.46

73.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.63 MAD 5.88

6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.61 MAD 5.75

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.00 MAD 37.38

16.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.87 MAD 64.3

156.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.35 MAD 12.67

37.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.63 MAD 15.27

102.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.79 MAD 7.41

11.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$16.50 MAD 154

17.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.64 MAD 5.99

112.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.59 MAD 5.48

127.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.78 MAD 63.4

21.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.55 MAD 14.46

-21.29%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$27.7K MAD 259.0K

-22.85%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$20.3K MAD 190.4K

10.72%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$28.31 MAD 265

149.63%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$10.80 MAD 101

30.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$22.06 MAD 206

-20.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$24.54 MAD 230

71.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$23.12 MAD 216

-70.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.69 MAD 62.6

-11.51%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$77.8 MAD 728

296.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,955 MAD 18.3K

660.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$19.12 MAD 179

191.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$16.63 MAD 156

57.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$48.30 MAD 452

71.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$32.65 MAD 306

115.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$286 MAD 2,679

50.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$200 MAD 1,869

19.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$599 MAD 5,603

37.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$387 MAD 3,624

32.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,210 MAD 11.3K

58.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$895 MAD 8,378

63.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$317 MAD 2,964

82.92%

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 Guelmim: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $286 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 83% 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 Guelmim. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $149 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 41% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $915 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.8 in Guelmim. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% 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 $610 in Guelmim, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guelmim costs $610 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 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.