Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maroua

For one person, living is cheaper in Maroua: $348 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Maroua

🇨🇲 Cameroon

$348

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Maroua

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Maroua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $348 in Maroua, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Maroua $348

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $519 in Maroua, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Maroua $519

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $690 in Maroua, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Maroua $690

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Maroua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Maroua are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maroua 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.66 FCFA 976

17.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$0.84 FCFA 491

71.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$2.84 FCFA 1,670

-53.17%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$5.62 FCFA 3,304

-59.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$5.13 FCFA 3,012

220.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$5.24 FCFA 3,077

-46.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$3.31 FCFA 1,945

181.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$1.72 FCFA 1,008

36.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$0.87 FCFA 511

11.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.87 FCFA 513

83.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.74 FCFA 1,021

-13.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$2.60 FCFA 1,525

-50.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.71 FCFA 1,005

-35.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.82 FCFA 482

-40.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$11.12 FCFA 6,532

57.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$0.87 FCFA 513

85.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$1.75 FCFA 1,026

58.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$51.6 FCFA 30.3K

20.60%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$8.43 FCFA 4,953

44.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$16.99 FCFA 9,981

119.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$1.69 FCFA 992

123.08%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$83.7 FCFA 49.2K

269.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$154 FCFA 90.3K

312.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Maroua: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Maroua

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Maroua

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Maroua

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Maroua

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Maroua

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Maroua

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Maroua

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇲 Maroua

🕒 Local time

01:22 1:22 AM

19:22 7:22 PM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

3,119,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Central African CFA Franc XAF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 XAF = 1.7 USD

1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 587 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Maroua 9,070 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Maroua

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Maroua, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $522 in Maroua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $348 in Maroua. That makes Maroua about 63% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $348 in Maroua to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.