😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $671 in Oujda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,017 in Oujda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,363 in Oujda, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Oujda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Oujda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Oujda50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$2.72MAD 25.03
-28.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$10.77MAD 99.0
73.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$5.24MAD 48.12
49.24%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$1.51MAD 13.89
29.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.50MAD 4.60
70.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.30MAD 2.76
16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$2.61MAD 24.00
-18.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$3.60MAD 33.09
3.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.83MAD 7.66
106.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.60MAD 5.50
171.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.93MAD 17.72
-40.93%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$1.99MAD 18.25
-3.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$13.25MAD 122
22.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$5.11MAD 46.98
-38.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$9.11MAD 83.7
19.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$1.58MAD 14.50
74.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.32MAD 12.15
-8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$0.78MAD 7.18
107.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.81MAD 7.46
96.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.65MAD 5.95
115.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.65MAD 5.93
80.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$0.95MAD 8.71
-30.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.66MAD 6.03
-19.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$4.19MAD 38.52
11.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$12.62MAD 116
47.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$2.49MAD 22.86
-27.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$3.07MAD 28.19
5.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.26
$0.39MAD 3.63
130.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$16.22MAD 149
18.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.91
$0.54MAD 4.93
161.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.62MAD 5.71
108.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$4.31MAD 39.61
81.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.62MAD 14.87
-21.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$37.3KMAD 342.9K
-42.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$29.9KMAD 275.0K
-25.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$36.70MAD 337
88.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$10.77MAD 99.0
30.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$54.4MAD 500
-66.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$20.31MAD 187
102.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$16.20MAD 149
-57.04%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$6.38MAD 58.7
-7.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$62.5MAD 574
378.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$1,941MAD 17.8K
670.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$24.19MAD 222
126.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$46.35MAD 426
-42.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$74.4MAD 684
14.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$63.2MAD 581
11.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$214MAD 1,966
100.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$138MAD 1,267
72.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$408MAD 3,750
96.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$284MAD 2,607
81.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$803MAD 7,375
146.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$516MAD 4,738
186.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$388MAD 3,564
59.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.78
4.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Oujda: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $214 in Oujda. 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 59% 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 $11.00 in Oujda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $204 – making Oujda 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 Oujda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Oujda?
Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Oujda, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Oujda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,006 in Oujda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Oujda?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oujda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Oujda?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $62.5 in Oujda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Oujda?
Groceries cost about 21% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Oujda?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $671 in Oujda, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Oujda?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oujda costs $671 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Oujda?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Oujda?
If budget matters most, go with Oujda. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared