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 $670 in Meknes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $984 in Meknes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,298 in Meknes, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% 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 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.20 MAD 20.35

-10.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$12.47 MAD 115

50.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.40 MAD 49.91

46.67%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.27 MAD 11.76

50.39%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.69 MAD 6.38

21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.45 MAD 4.14

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.23 MAD 29.86

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.20 MAD 38.81

-9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.87 MAD 8.01

88.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.35 MAD 3.20

362.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.26 MAD 11.64

-6.35%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.91 MAD 17.67

5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.88 MAD 101

46.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.37 MAD 40.42

-31.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$9.33 MAD 86.3

15.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.37 MAD 12.66

90.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.20 MAD 11.07

1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.93 MAD 8.59

82.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.67 MAD 6.17

135.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.73 MAD 6.77

80.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.74 MAD 6.83

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.43 MAD 3.94

55.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.62 MAD 5.77

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.36 MAD 40.31

3.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$11.55 MAD 107

57.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.89 MAD 26.76

-36.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.67 MAD 24.72

20.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.45 MAD 4.19

97.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$16.32 MAD 151

18.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.40 MAD 3.69

237.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.48 MAD 4.48

181.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.50 MAD 41.61

83.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.53 MAD 14.18

-16.99%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$37.0K MAD 341.9K

-42.76%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.5K MAD 263.8K

-21.15%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$37.31 MAD 345

88.02%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$10.72 MAD 99.1

28.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$33.14 MAD 307

-46.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$24.93 MAD 231

66.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$19.26 MAD 178

-65.73%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.38 MAD 40.51

31.96%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$150 MAD 1,384

104.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$1,643 MAD 15.2K

802.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$46.32 MAD 428

17.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.60 MAD 366

-33.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$57.2 MAD 529

47.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$54.1 MAD 500

28.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$274 MAD 2,532

54.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$171 MAD 1,579

39.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$416 MAD 3,845

98.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$285 MAD 2,638

80.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$954 MAD 8,824

114.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$646 MAD 5,976

135.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$497 MAD 4,593

27.93%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Meknes: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $274 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 28% 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 $12.00 in Meknes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $184 – 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 27% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,004 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $150 in Meknes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $670 in Meknes, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meknes costs $670 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.