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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Mai 35% lower, Oujda 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$2.72 MAD 25.03
-28.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$10.77 MAD 99.0
73.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$5.24 MAD 48.12
49.24%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$1.51 MAD 13.89
29.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$0.50 MAD 4.60
70.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$0.30 MAD 2.76
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$2.61 MAD 24.00
-18.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$3.60 MAD 33.09
3.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$0.83 MAD 7.66
106.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.60 MAD 5.50
171.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$1.93 MAD 17.72
-40.93%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$1.99 MAD 18.25
-3.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$13.25 MAD 122
22.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$5.11 MAD 46.98
-38.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$9.11 MAD 83.7
19.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$1.58 MAD 14.50
74.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.32 MAD 12.15
-8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$0.78 MAD 7.18
107.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.81 MAD 7.46
96.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$0.65 MAD 5.95
115.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$0.65 MAD 5.93
80.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$0.95 MAD 8.71
-30.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.66 MAD 6.03
-19.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$4.19 MAD 38.52
11.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$12.62 MAD 116
47.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$2.49 MAD 22.86
-27.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$3.07 MAD 28.19
5.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$0.39 MAD 3.63
130.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$16.22 MAD 149
18.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$0.54 MAD 4.93
161.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$0.62 MAD 5.71
108.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$4.31 MAD 39.61
81.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$1.62 MAD 14.87
-21.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$37.3K MAD 342.9K
-42.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$29.9K MAD 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
$36.70 MAD 337
88.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$10.77 MAD 99.0
30.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$54.4 MAD 500
-66.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$20.31 MAD 187
102.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$16.20 MAD 149
-57.04%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$6.38 MAD 58.7
-7.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$62.5 MAD 574
378.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$1,941 MAD 17.8K
670.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$24.19 MAD 222
126.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$46.35 MAD 426
-42.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$74.4 MAD 684
14.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$63.2 MAD 581
11.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$214 MAD 1,966
100.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$138 MAD 1,267
72.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$408 MAD 3,750
96.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$284 MAD 2,607
81.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$803 MAD 7,375
146.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$516 MAD 4,738
186.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$388 MAD 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.

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