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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $668 in Khouribga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,030 in Khouribga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,393 in Khouribga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Khouribga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Khouribga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Khouribga 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.88 MAD 35.92

-49.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$23.87 MAD 221

-21.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.57 MAD 42.28

73.30%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.18 MAD 10.88

61.86%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.37 MAD 3.38

127.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.23 MAD 2.13

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.37 MAD 31.19

-34.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.42 MAD 22.38

57.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.01 MAD 9.38

62.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.53 MAD 4.90

205.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.70 MAD 15.71

-30.59%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.76 MAD 16.29

14.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.93 MAD 91.9

60.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.38 MAD 49.77

-44.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.99 MAD 92.4

7.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.34 MAD 12.43

94.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.56 MAD 14.40

-21.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.77 MAD 7.08

120.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.07 MAD 9.90

47.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.96 MAD 8.87

37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.69 MAD 6.42

69.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.39 MAD 3.65

71.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.59 MAD 5.44

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.10 MAD 37.88

10.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.87 MAD 72.8

131.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.62 MAD 24.25

-30.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.75 MAD 25.41

17.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.54 MAD 4.96

64.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$16.60 MAD 154

16.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.85 MAD 7.89

58.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.48 MAD 4.46

181.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.32 MAD 39.92

90.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.49 MAD 13.80

-14.77%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$36.6K MAD 338.3K

-42.16%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$29.8K MAD 275.7K

-24.56%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$48.71 MAD 451

44.02%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$11.16 MAD 103

23.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$35.57 MAD 329

-50.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$14.80 MAD 137

180.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$23.62 MAD 219

-72.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.54 MAD 60.5

-11.62%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$95.9 MAD 887

219.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$3,492 MAD 32.3K

324.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$15.62 MAD 145

248.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$33.38 MAD 309

-21.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$85.9 MAD 795

-1.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$33.35 MAD 309

108.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$281 MAD 2,595

51.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$175 MAD 1,623

35.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$503 MAD 4,656

63.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$306 MAD 2,835

68.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,622 MAD 15.0K

26.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$957 MAD 8,851

59.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$344 MAD 3,183

84.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.78

4.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Khouribga: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $281 in Khouribga. 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 85% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Khouribga. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $188 in Khouribga – so Khouribga 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 Khouribga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than Khouribga, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,002 in Khouribga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $95.9 in Khouribga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $668 in Khouribga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khouribga costs $668 versus $852 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 Khouribga. 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.