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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $674 in Khouribga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,029 in Khouribga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,383 in Khouribga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Khouribga, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Khouribga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Khouribga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.36 MAD 40.97

-51.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$14.94 MAD 140

32.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$8.85 MAD 83.2

-34.58%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.21 MAD 11.38

51.24%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.48 MAD 4.54

62.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.33 MAD 3.15

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.67 MAD 34.47

-36.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.74 MAD 25.78

35.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.95 MAD 8.93

113.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.74 MAD 6.96

116.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.57 MAD 14.75

-9.55%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.88 MAD 17.68

15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$13.23 MAD 124

20.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.31 MAD 59.3

-51.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.84 MAD 102

-8.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.70 MAD 15.96

54.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.51 MAD 14.23

-27.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.86 MAD 8.10

89.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.00 MAD 9.40

53.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.95 MAD 8.97

30.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.67 MAD 6.28

68.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.20 MAD 1.88

270.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.65 MAD 6.11

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.36 MAD 40.99

-1.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.87 MAD 74.0

128.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.57 MAD 24.16

-33.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.73 MAD 25.62

6.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.51 MAD 4.77

84.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$19.14 MAD 180

188.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.87 MAD 8.21

41.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.68 MAD 6.37

-22.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$5.02 MAD 47.19

-52.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.53 MAD 14.41

-5.88%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$29.5K MAD 277.5K

-28.23%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$23.4K MAD 220.0K

16.65%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$55.8 MAD 524

16.42%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$8.63 MAD 81.1

54.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$37.27 MAD 350

-44.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$16.04 MAD 151

152.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$23.06 MAD 217

-82.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$10.55 MAD 99.2

-36.40%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$93.0 MAD 874

746.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$6,404 MAD 60.2K

136.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$25.51 MAD 240

120.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$42.18 MAD 396

-40.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$74.5 MAD 700

24.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$56.2 MAD 528

33.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$162 MAD 1,523

198.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$105 MAD 984

174.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$292 MAD 2,742

211.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$212 MAD 1,990

150.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,254 MAD 11.8K

57.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$858 MAD 8,065

69.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$348 MAD 3,274

73.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.52

23.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Khouribga: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $162 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 74% 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 $15.00 in Khouribga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $207 – making Khouribga 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 Khouribga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Khouribga, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,011 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.0 in Khouribga. 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Khouribga, where all-in costs run around $674, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Khouribga 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. Khouribga costs $674 versus $950 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.