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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $771 in Ifrane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,153 in Ifrane, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,534 in Ifrane, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Ifrane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Ifrane are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ifrane 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.59 MAD 33.62

-42.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$11.69 MAD 109

68.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$7.61 MAD 71.2

-25.76%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.27 MAD 11.89

42.52%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.76 MAD 7.15

-6.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.36 MAD 3.35

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$2.77 MAD 25.91

-19.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.30 MAD 40.20

-15.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.90 MAD 8.43

117.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.77 MAD 7.20

94.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.47 MAD 13.75

-8.84%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.86 MAD 17.43

21.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$10.78 MAD 101

50.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$7.43 MAD 69.5

-60.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$12.80 MAD 120

-22.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$0.99 MAD 9.21

159.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.21 MAD 11.32

-12.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.81 MAD 7.61

98.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.56 MAD 5.26

171.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.68 MAD 6.36

86.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.44 MAD 4.15

143.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.50 MAD 4.67

44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.56 MAD 5.27

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.28 MAD 40.07

-2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.42 MAD 78.8

112.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.72 MAD 25.48

-37.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$3.16 MAD 29.54

-10.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.51 MAD 4.73

82.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$17.63 MAD 165

205.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.88 MAD 8.19

39.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.33 MAD 3.13

75.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$4.88 MAD 45.64

-50.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.59 MAD 14.90

-11.32%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$32.0K MAD 299.3K

-32.98%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$31.9K MAD 298.0K

-14.19%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$50.6 MAD 473

25.85%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$11.79 MAD 110

8.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$44.60 MAD 417

-54.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$24.01 MAD 225

61.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$18.95 MAD 177

-79.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$7.65 MAD 71.5

-11.90%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$106 MAD 988

636.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$5,684 MAD 53.2K

157.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$61.4 MAD 574

-11.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$49.68 MAD 465

-48.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$103 MAD 959

-7.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$66.3 MAD 620

10.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$294 MAD 2,755

66.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$163 MAD 1,522

77.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$527 MAD 4,933

69.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$315 MAD 2,950

63.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,085 MAD 10.1K

80.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$811 MAD 7,585

82.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$301 MAD 2,816

100.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.01

11.18%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ifrane: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $294 in Ifrane. 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 100% 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 $12.00 in Ifrane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $205 – making Ifrane 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 Ifrane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Ifrane, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $1,157 in Ifrane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $106 in Ifrane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ifrane, where all-in costs run around $771, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ifrane 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. Ifrane costs $771 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 Ifrane. 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.