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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $574 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $904 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,234 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Ouarzazate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ouarzazate are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ouarzazate 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.75 MAD 43.84

-58.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$10.99 MAD 102

67.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$4.35 MAD 40.22

80.92%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.08 MAD 9.95

80.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.42 MAD 3.90

102.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.32 MAD 2.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$2.71 MAD 25.05

-21.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$2.67 MAD 24.65

37.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$0.77 MAD 7.10

115.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.56 MAD 5.18

178.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.45 MAD 13.43

-17.93%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.63 MAD 15.07

22.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$7.64 MAD 70.6

112.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$4.18 MAD 38.66

-24.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$6.68 MAD 61.8

62.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$0.95 MAD 8.76

178.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.38 MAD 12.76

-11.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$0.67 MAD 6.20

146.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$0.73 MAD 6.72

112.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.67 MAD 6.23

98.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.46 MAD 4.22

163.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$0.21 MAD 1.93

223.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.63 MAD 5.81

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$4.51 MAD 41.71

3.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$7.98 MAD 73.7

112.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$2.64 MAD 24.35

-31.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$2.95 MAD 27.25

7.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.51 MAD 4.72

78.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$16.52 MAD 153

13.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.53 MAD 4.86

166.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$0.48 MAD 4.45

179.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

$2.69 MAD 24.83

202.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.55 MAD 14.34

-17.42%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$36.9K MAD 340.6K

-40.81%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$29.3K MAD 270.5K

-23.48%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$32.28 MAD 298

118.34%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$5.41 MAD 49.94

159.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$24.59 MAD 227

-28.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$15.43 MAD 143

167.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$23.49 MAD 217

-71.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$3.90 MAD 36.06

52.82%

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

$303 ฿9,846

$78.2 MAD 722

287.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

$6,406 MAD 59.2K

133.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$38.65 MAD 357

41.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

$49.64 MAD 459

-47.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$49.53 MAD 458

73.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$66.8 MAD 617

4.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$246 MAD 2,269

74.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$133 MAD 1,231

79.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$510 MAD 4,714

58.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$304 MAD 2,813

67.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$1,547 MAD 14.3K

30.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$934 MAD 8,628

60.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Ouarzazate: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $246 in Ouarzazate. 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Ouarzazate. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $155 – making Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 48% more than Ouarzazate, 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $861 in Ouarzazate. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $78.2 in Ouarzazate. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $574 in Ouarzazate, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ouarzazate costs $574 versus $848 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 Ouarzazate. 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.