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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $647 in Meknes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $986 in Meknes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,324 in Meknes, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Meknes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Meknes are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Meknes 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.25 MAD 20.97

-9.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$12.70 MAD 118

47.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.35 MAD 49.91

46.92%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.31 MAD 12.18

54.96%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.75 MAD 6.97

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.48 MAD 4.45

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$3.37 MAD 31.44

-36.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.08 MAD 38.05

-10.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.81 MAD 7.53

113.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.32 MAD 2.96

390.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.30 MAD 12.09

-7.69%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.91 MAD 17.85

3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$10.96 MAD 102

48.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.51 MAD 42.02

-32.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$9.45 MAD 88.1

14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.38 MAD 12.85

100.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.25 MAD 11.66

-6.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$0.90 MAD 8.42

90.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.66 MAD 6.14

140.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.72 MAD 6.69

93.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.76 MAD 7.05

52.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.46 MAD 4.30

43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.57 MAD 5.34

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.38 MAD 40.88

6.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$11.26 MAD 105

57.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$2.82 MAD 26.32

-36.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.66 MAD 24.82

25.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.46 MAD 4.25

97.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$16.53 MAD 154

12.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.39 MAD 3.66

261.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.52 MAD 4.86

157.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$4.45 MAD 41.52

82.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.49 MAD 13.87

-17.45%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$36.8K MAD 342.8K

-41.69%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$29.0K MAD 270.7K

-24.83%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$37.82 MAD 353

88.60%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$10.76 MAD 100

30.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$34.00 MAD 317

-47.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$24.36 MAD 227

67.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$19.34 MAD 180

-64.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.42 MAD 41.23

29.41%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$154 MAD 1,434

100.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,668 MAD 15.6K

779.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$45.92 MAD 428

21.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$40.74 MAD 380

-36.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$56.6 MAD 528

49.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$54.3 MAD 506

30.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$270 MAD 2,515

56.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$169 MAD 1,578

43.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$420 MAD 3,913

89.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$278 MAD 2,589

82.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$981 MAD 9,144

95.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$612 MAD 5,702

139.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$485 MAD 4,524

22.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Meknes: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $270 in Meknes. 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 23% 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 $13.00 in Meknes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $183 – making Meknes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Meknes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Meknes, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $971 in Meknes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meknes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $154 in Meknes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $647 in Meknes, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meknes costs $647 versus $852 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 Meknes. 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.