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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $905 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,396 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,888 in Marrakech, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Marrakech, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Marrakech 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.56 MAD 41.93

-57.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$33.31 MAD 306

-44.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.99 MAD 64.2

11.87%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.54 MAD 23.33

-23.23%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.27 MAD 11.63

-33.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.60 MAD 5.55

-41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$5.34 MAD 49.06

-60.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.32 MAD 58.1

-40.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.90 MAD 8.28

90.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.58 MAD 5.35

181.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.75 MAD 16.06

-34.86%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.09 MAD 19.19

-7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.56 MAD 87.9

69.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.98 MAD 55.0

-47.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.03 MAD 101

-1.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.58 MAD 14.53

74.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.35 MAD 12.38

-10.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.90 MAD 8.27

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.88 MAD 8.08

80.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.80 MAD 7.39

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.74 MAD 6.83

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.42 MAD 3.88

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.64 MAD 5.88

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.35 MAD 39.94

7.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.22 MAD 75.5

127.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.68 MAD 24.63

-32.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.96 MAD 27.18

9.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.43 MAD 3.92

109.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.91 MAD 100

76.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.02 MAD 9.42

38.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.51 MAD 4.71

152.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.44 MAD 50.0

44.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.58 MAD 14.54

-19.62%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$37.8K MAD 347.2K

-43.68%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$30.1K MAD 276.5K

-26.16%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$31.74 MAD 292

117.61%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.91 MAD 100

29.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$46.40 MAD 426

-61.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$23.72 MAD 218

73.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$32.52 MAD 299

-78.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.74 MAD 62.0

-12.17%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$111 MAD 1,023

168.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,435 MAD 59.1K

132.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$41.93 MAD 385

30.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$50.0 MAD 460

-46.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$110 MAD 1,013

-22.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$102 MAD 938

-30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$435 MAD 3,997

-1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$283 MAD 2,601

-16.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$763 MAD 7,015

4.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$443 MAD 4,072

16.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,993 MAD 18.3K

-0.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,039 MAD 9,550

41.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$528 MAD 4,850

16.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

5.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $435 in Marrakech. 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 17% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Marrakech. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Marrakech – so Marrakech 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 Marrakech: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marrakech costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,357 in Marrakech. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $111 in Marrakech. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Marrakech – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Marrakech at $905. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marrakech it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $905 in Marrakech. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marrakech makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.