😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $679 in Oujda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,026 in Oujda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,373 in Oujda, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Oujda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Oujda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Oujda49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$2.77MAD 25.91
-29.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$11.02MAD 103
66.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$5.10MAD 47.69
46.67%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$1.45MAD 13.58
39.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.47MAD 4.44
80.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$0.28MAD 2.59
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$2.52MAD 23.62
-15.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$3.54MAD 33.17
1.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.82MAD 7.68
101.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.60MAD 5.59
161.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$1.91MAD 17.90
-37.70%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$2.02MAD 18.92
-3.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$12.95MAD 121
25.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$5.25MAD 49.11
-43.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$8.99MAD 84.1
21.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$1.53MAD 14.31
77.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$1.39MAD 12.97
-15.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$0.74MAD 6.88
128.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.81MAD 7.60
97.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.61MAD 5.72
126.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$0.69MAD 6.45
73.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.87MAD 8.12
-22.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.62MAD 5.79
-9.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$4.11MAD 38.47
12.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$12.30MAD 115
43.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$2.39MAD 22.38
-22.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$3.05MAD 28.55
8.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$0.40MAD 3.72
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$16.38MAD 153
18.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$0.56MAD 5.28
142.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.61MAD 5.75
119.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$4.46MAD 41.70
84.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$1.60MAD 14.98
-23.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$37.3KMAD 349.4K
-42.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$29.5KMAD 276.4K
-23.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$35.96MAD 336
96.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$10.99MAD 103
27.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$54.7MAD 512
-68.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$20.33MAD 190
107.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
$16.15MAD 151
-57.40%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$6.60MAD 61.7
-10.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$62.2MAD 582
396.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$1,964MAD 18.4K
657.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$23.54MAD 220
136.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$46.91MAD 439
-44.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$76.2MAD 713
8.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$62.8MAD 587
12.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$209MAD 1,953
107.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$134MAD 1,253
78.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$404MAD 3,782
103.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$282MAD 2,637
81.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$820MAD 7,669
133.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$513MAD 4,796
186.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
$380MAD 3,554
52.55%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Oujda: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $209 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 53% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Oujda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $202 – 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 27% 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 and in Oujda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,019 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 in Oujda?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $62.2 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 in 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 in Oujda?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $679 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 $679 versus $861 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 to 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