Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Oued Zem Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Oued Zem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $763 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,250 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,737 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Oued Zem are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Oued Zem 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.19 MAD 39.41

-49.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$45.68 MAD 429

-56.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.52 MAD 70.6

-23.01%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.01 MAD 18.89

-8.96%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.65 MAD 6.07

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.36 MAD 3.34

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$5.26 MAD 49.40

-55.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.24 MAD 30.49

14.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.92 MAD 8.65

120.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.66 MAD 6.17

142.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.94 MAD 18.22

-26.80%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.00 MAD 18.79

9.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$12.01 MAD 113

32.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.66 MAD 62.6

-53.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$12.66 MAD 119

-22.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.64 MAD 15.40

60.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.47 MAD 13.81

-25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.88 MAD 8.28

85.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.93 MAD 8.74

64.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.76 MAD 7.11

63.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.78 MAD 7.30

44.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.41 MAD 3.90

80.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.61 MAD 5.77

-18.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.25 MAD 39.96

0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.73 MAD 72.6

132.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.71 MAD 25.46

-37.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.80 MAD 26.33

3.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.55 MAD 5.14

70.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$19.29 MAD 181

186.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.74 MAD 6.94

66.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.91 MAD 8.54

-41.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.42 MAD 41.57

-45.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.60 MAD 15.00

-10.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$36.0K MAD 337.9K

-41.06%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$32.8K MAD 308.4K

-16.81%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$36.54 MAD 343

77.70%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.49 MAD 98.6

27.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$33.61 MAD 316

-38.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$26.79 MAD 252

50.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$21.97 MAD 206

-82.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.27 MAD 58.9

7.02%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$190 MAD 1,782

315.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,178 MAD 67.5K

110.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$50.7 MAD 476

11.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$45.58 MAD 428

-45.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$93.3 MAD 877

-0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$70.5 MAD 663

6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$272 MAD 2,558

77.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$172 MAD 1,612

67.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$489 MAD 4,591

86.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$271 MAD 2,548

95.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,242 MAD 11.7K

59.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$863 MAD 8,114

68.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$249 MAD 2,343

142.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.52

23.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $272 in Oued Zem. 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 143% 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 $46.00 in Oued Zem. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $211 in Oued Zem – so Oued Zem 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 Oued Zem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Oued Zem, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,144 in Oued Zem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $190 in Oued Zem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Oued Zem 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. Oued Zem costs $763 versus $950 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 Oued Zem. 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.