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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $806 in Larache, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,228 in Larache, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,650 in Larache, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Larache, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Larache are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Larache 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.75 MAD 34.51

-48.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$21.85 MAD 201

-14.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$7.04 MAD 64.8

11.08%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.41 MAD 22.20

-19.09%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.63 MAD 5.78

34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.34 MAD 3.17

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.76 MAD 25.38

-22.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.25 MAD 29.95

14.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.92 MAD 8.51

85.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.77 MAD 7.05

111.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.96 MAD 18.08

-41.84%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.89 MAD 17.43

2.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.37 MAD 105

42.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.19 MAD 66.2

-56.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.66 MAD 107

-6.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.84 MAD 16.98

49.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.57 MAD 14.42

-22.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.93 MAD 8.52

74.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.84 MAD 7.72

89.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.73 MAD 6.72

91.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.73 MAD 6.76

60.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.46 MAD 4.21

43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.58 MAD 5.36

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.37 MAD 40.22

7.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$8.48 MAD 78.1

120.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.76 MAD 25.38

-34.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.83 MAD 26.04

14.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.47 MAD 4.36

91.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$16.46 MAD 152

16.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.53 MAD 4.84

166.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.51 MAD 4.72

152.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.24 MAD 48.26

49.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.52 MAD 13.98

-16.45%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$26.2K MAD 241.1K

-18.75%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$28.4K MAD 261.4K

-21.77%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$48.65 MAD 448

41.97%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$12.19 MAD 112

15.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$41.98 MAD 387

-57.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$22.27 MAD 205

84.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$23.51 MAD 216

-70.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.41 MAD 49.79

9.43%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$207 MAD 1,901

44.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$5,318 MAD 49.0K

181.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$65.7 MAD 605

-16.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$54.6 MAD 503

-50.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$109 MAD 1,003

-22.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$91.8 MAD 845

-23.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$276 MAD 2,544

54.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$176 MAD 1,622

34.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$509 MAD 4,684

57.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$307 MAD 2,827

67.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,499 MAD 13.8K

31.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,025 MAD 9,438

43.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$295 MAD 2,718

109.13%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Larache: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $276 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 109% 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 $22.00 in Larache. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $213 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 7% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,210 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $207 in Larache. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $806 in Larache, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Larache costs $806 versus $866 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.