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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $773 in Larache, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,202 in Larache, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,630 in Larache, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.83 MAD 35.85

-45.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$21.14 MAD 198

-7.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.80 MAD 63.6

-16.91%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.05 MAD 19.15

-11.71%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.63 MAD 5.87

12.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.35 MAD 3.31

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$2.67 MAD 24.96

-16.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.27 MAD 30.63

11.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.95 MAD 8.86

106.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.78 MAD 7.28

92.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.91 MAD 17.83

-29.84%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.90 MAD 17.73

18.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$11.52 MAD 108

41.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$7.35 MAD 68.8

-59.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$12.81 MAD 120

-22.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.73 MAD 16.17

48.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.55 MAD 14.46

-31.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.84 MAD 7.90

91.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.77 MAD 7.16

97.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.67 MAD 6.28

89.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.75 MAD 7.05

42.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.46 MAD 4.35

56.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.55 MAD 5.16

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.34 MAD 40.62

-3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.46 MAD 79.2

111.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.74 MAD 25.67

-38.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$3.16 MAD 29.60

-10.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.55 MAD 5.14

69.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$19.74 MAD 185

172.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.56 MAD 5.25

119.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.33 MAD 3.11

75.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$4.80 MAD 44.86

-49.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.57 MAD 14.65

-10.19%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$25.6K MAD 239.1K

-16.09%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$32.2K MAD 300.8K

-14.99%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$51.0 MAD 477

24.77%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$11.56 MAD 108

11.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$45.37 MAD 424

-55.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$21.39 MAD 200

81.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$21.26 MAD 199

-81.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.40 MAD 50.6

24.81%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$105 MAD 985

638.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$5,680 MAD 53.1K

157.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$60.7 MAD 568

-10.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$49.49 MAD 463

-48.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$102 MAD 953

-7.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$67.7 MAD 633

8.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$278 MAD 2,601

76.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$177 MAD 1,660

63.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$478 MAD 4,476

86.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$281 MAD 2,626

84.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,231 MAD 11.5K

58.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$947 MAD 8,859

55.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$287 MAD 2,686

109.73%

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 Larache: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $278 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 110% 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 $21.00 in Larache. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $216 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 23% more than Larache, 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 $1,160 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $105 in Larache. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 Larache, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Larache 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. Larache costs $773 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 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.