Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Martil

For one person, living is cheaper in Martil: $662 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Martil
🇲🇦 Morocco
$662
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Martil actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $662 in Martil, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Martil $662

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,030 in Martil, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Martil $1,030

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,398 in Martil, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Martil $1,398

Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Martil, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Martil are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Martil 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$2.94 MAD 28.64
-22.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$25.73 MAD 251
-23.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$7.11 MAD 69.4
-21.10%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$1.86 MAD 18.14
-10.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$0.54 MAD 5.23
29.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$0.37 MAD 3.58
-16.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$2.65 MAD 25.82
-9.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$3.12 MAD 30.42
18.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$0.89 MAD 8.71
119.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$0.19 MAD 1.80
642.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$1.92 MAD 18.72
-31.77%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.83 MAD 17.84
19.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$5.74 MAD 56.0
190.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$6.85 MAD 66.8
-59.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$11.96 MAD 117
-23.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$1.57 MAD 15.32
52.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$1.38 MAD 13.46
-25.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$0.82 MAD 8.01
98.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$0.82 MAD 7.96
82.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$0.68 MAD 6.67
89.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$0.71 MAD 6.97
56.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$0.41 MAD 3.97
75.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$0.60 MAD 5.84
-11.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$3.81 MAD 37.15
13.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$7.61 MAD 74.2
135.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$2.12 MAD 20.64
-25.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$2.51 MAD 24.42
13.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
$0.50 MAD 4.88
72.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$20.73 MAD 202
157.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$0.68 MAD 6.68
77.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$0.74 MAD 7.18
-22.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$3.37 MAD 32.90
-30.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.52 MAD 14.85
-5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$31.3K MAD 305.5K
-33.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$30.5K MAD 297.8K
-12.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$36.77 MAD 359
69.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$10.13 MAD 98.8
19.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$34.04 MAD 332
-41.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
$26.01 MAD 254
42.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
$20.99 MAD 205
-81.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$3.84 MAD 37.45
69.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$47.05 MAD 459
1584.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$5,704 MAD 55.6K
159.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$18.08 MAD 176
197.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$40.40 MAD 394
-39.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$56.2 MAD 548
61.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$66.0 MAD 643
7.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
$266 MAD 2,593
71.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
$169 MAD 1,647
76.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
$461 MAD 4,497
96.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
$270 MAD 2,635
104.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
$1,185 MAD 11.6K
62.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
$835 MAD 8,145
72.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.55
22.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Martil: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Martil
$169 43.3% $129
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Martil
$180 23.7% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Martil
$81 24.9% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Martil
$81 14.2% $13
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Martil
$90 14.9% $12
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Martil
$27 55.4% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Martil
$34 32.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $266 in Martil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $26.00 in Martil. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $180 in Martil – so Martil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇦 Martil
🕒 Local time
10:18 10:18 AM
04:18 4:18 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
64,355
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Martil 10,020 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Martil

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 Martil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Martil?
Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Martil, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Martil?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $993 in Martil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Martil?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Martil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Martil?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $47.05 in Martil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Martil?
Groceries cost about 31% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Martil?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Martil, where all-in costs run around $662, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Martil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Martil?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Martil costs $662 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Martil?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Martil?
If budget matters most, go with Martil. 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.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?