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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $791 in Larache, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,217 in Larache, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,642 in Larache, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Larache, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Larache are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Larache 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$3.86 MAD 36.01

-49.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$21.60 MAD 201

-15.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.18 MAD 66.9

4.18%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.36 MAD 22.02

-14.41%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.69 MAD 6.42

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.32 MAD 2.95

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.79 MAD 26.04

-23.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.22 MAD 30.01

11.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.99 MAD 9.20

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.71 MAD 6.63

121.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.97 MAD 18.35

-39.59%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.94 MAD 18.07

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$11.09 MAD 103

45.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.43 MAD 69.3

-59.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.92 MAD 111

-8.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.85 MAD 17.30

46.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.58 MAD 14.75

-25.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$0.94 MAD 8.72

79.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.83 MAD 7.70

92.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.78 MAD 7.27

76.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.76 MAD 7.05

57.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.42 MAD 3.92

59.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.57 MAD 5.36

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.50 MAD 41.92

3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.83 MAD 73.0

125.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.90 MAD 27.06

-35.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.88 MAD 26.84

14.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.51 MAD 4.79

72.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$16.36 MAD 153

18.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.58 MAD 5.38

134.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.48 MAD 4.43

179.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.25 MAD 48.94

56.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.46 MAD 13.62

-16.44%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$26.7K MAD 249.2K

-20.09%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$29.2K MAD 272.3K

-22.86%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$49.36 MAD 460

43.17%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$12.28 MAD 115

14.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$42.68 MAD 398

-59.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$22.08 MAD 206

90.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$23.36 MAD 218

-70.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.43 MAD 50.6

9.02%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$208 MAD 1,943

48.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$5,407 MAD 50.4K

175.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$65.0 MAD 606

-14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$54.0 MAD 504

-51.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$109 MAD 1,015

-23.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$91.1 MAD 849

-22.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$284 MAD 2,650

52.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$173 MAD 1,611

38.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$497 MAD 4,634

65.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$310 MAD 2,892

65.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,209 MAD 11.3K

58.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$915 MAD 8,528

60.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$285 MAD 2,656

103.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.29

-5.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Larache: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $284 in Larache. 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 103% 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 $22.00 in Larache. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $214 in Larache – so Larache 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 Larache: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Larache, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,187 in Larache. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Larache, 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 $208 in Larache. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $791 in Larache, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Larache costs $791 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 Larache. 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.