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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $724 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,136 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,548 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Ouarzazate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.60 MAD 34.12

-42.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$31.85 MAD 302

-38.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.25 MAD 59.3

-9.28%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.23 MAD 21.19

-18.83%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.65 MAD 6.21

18.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.38 MAD 3.56

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$7.00 MAD 66.4

-68.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$5.57 MAD 52.8

-31.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.83 MAD 7.89

146.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.82 MAD 7.76

84.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.60 MAD 15.21

-12.50%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.53 MAD 14.49

47.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$7.82 MAD 74.1

107.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.68 MAD 44.37

-38.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.86 MAD 113

-20.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$0.76 MAD 7.25

252.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.23 MAD 11.70

-11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.65 MAD 6.19

149.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.81 MAD 7.72

80.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.69 MAD 6.59

85.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.84 MAD 7.93

26.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.23 MAD 2.17

213.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.58 MAD 5.46

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.18 MAD 39.60

1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.82 MAD 74.2

133.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.40 MAD 22.74

-32.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.40 MAD 32.21

-14.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.50 MAD 4.71

76.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$16.70 MAD 158

221.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.52 MAD 4.92

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.64 MAD 6.10

-9.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$7.36 MAD 69.8

-67.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.52 MAD 14.42

-4.61%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$35.4K MAD 335.8K

-40.66%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$30.4K MAD 288.4K

-13.10%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$36.93 MAD 350

72.35%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$5.12 MAD 48.55

151.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$26.66 MAD 253

-23.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$26.09 MAD 247

49.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$20.47 MAD 194

-80.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$6.47 MAD 61.4

1.70%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$100 MAD 953

680.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$8,459 MAD 80.2K

73.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$32.84 MAD 311

67.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$45.96 MAD 436

-46.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$84.7 MAD 803

11.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$85.5 MAD 811

-13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$271 MAD 2,569

81.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$171 MAD 1,623

68.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$545 MAD 5,166

63.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$311 MAD 2,952

67.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,222 MAD 11.6K

61.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$847 MAD 8,035

70.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.5

59.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ouarzazate: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $271 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Ouarzazate. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $175 in Ouarzazate – so Ouarzazate wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 29% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,085 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $100 in Ouarzazate. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouarzazate, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ouarzazate 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. Ouarzazate costs $724 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 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.