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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $731 in Meknes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,128 in Meknes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,525 in Meknes, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Meknes, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Meknes are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Meknes 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.25 MAD 30.81

-36.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$15.66 MAD 149

25.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.38 MAD 60.6

-11.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.25 MAD 11.89

44.80%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.91 MAD 8.62

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.42 MAD 4.00

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$3.10 MAD 29.36

-28.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.68 MAD 34.89

2.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.84 MAD 7.97

144.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.40 MAD 3.77

277.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.26 MAD 11.90

11.11%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.86 MAD 17.68

21.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$15.28 MAD 145

5.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.29 MAD 50.2

-45.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.69 MAD 91.9

-2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.31 MAD 12.40

104.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.23 MAD 11.68

-11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.67 MAD 6.33

141.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.60 MAD 5.66

143.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.56 MAD 5.32

128.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.80 MAD 7.59

32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.47 MAD 4.50

53.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.58 MAD 5.53

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.14 MAD 39.30

2.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.87 MAD 103

68.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$3.33 MAD 31.59

-51.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.66 MAD 25.21

9.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.43 MAD 4.13

104.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$16.13 MAD 153

233.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.73 MAD 6.91

60.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.54 MAD 5.15

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.43 MAD 13.55

1.40%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$34.8K MAD 330.4K

-39.69%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$31.2K MAD 296.0K

-15.34%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$31.36 MAD 297

102.97%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$9.65 MAD 91.5

33.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$34.69 MAD 329

-40.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$29.45 MAD 279

32.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$34.01 MAD 323

-88.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.15 MAD 39.35

58.55%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$127 MAD 1,201

519.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$67.2 MAD 637

-17.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$64.3 MAD 609

-61.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$104 MAD 982

-9.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$67.3 MAD 638

9.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$276 MAD 2,616

77.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$177 MAD 1,676

63.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$473 MAD 4,490

88.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$295 MAD 2,794

76.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$982 MAD 9,308

101.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$631 MAD 5,988

128.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$479 MAD 4,543

25.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.5

23.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $276 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 26% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $16.00 in Meknes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $202 – 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 Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,097 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $127 in Meknes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Meknes, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Meknes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meknes costs $731 versus $932 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.