😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $664 in Oujda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,016 in Oujda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,368 in Oujda, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than Oujda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Oujda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Oujda51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$4.06MAD 38.46
-48.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$18.39MAD 174
6.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$5.22MAD 49.50
8.62%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$1.54MAD 14.60
17.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$0.49MAD 4.64
57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.40MAD 3.82
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$2.60MAD 24.65
-15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$3.47MAD 32.89
9.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$0.86MAD 8.12
138.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.25MAD 2.36
504.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$1.93MAD 18.28
-27.46%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$1.93MAD 18.29
17.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$12.34MAD 117
31.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$4.08MAD 38.69
-28.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$8.76MAD 83.1
7.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$1.59MAD 15.06
68.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$1.39MAD 13.20
-21.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$1.01MAD 9.55
60.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$0.94MAD 8.90
55.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.75MAD 7.14
70.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$1.00MAD 9.44
6.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.52MAD 4.91
38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.68MAD 6.48
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$4.03MAD 38.24
4.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$12.09MAD 115
51.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$2.54MAD 24.11
-35.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$2.79MAD 26.47
3.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$0.35MAD 3.36
151.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$19.36MAD 184
177.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$0.71MAD 6.76
64.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.61MAD 5.77
-4.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$5.09MAD 48.27
-53.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$1.54MAD 14.63
-5.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$35.2KMAD 334.0K
-40.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$31.1KMAD 295.1K
-15.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$57.2MAD 542
11.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$10.42MAD 98.8
23.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$49.03MAD 465
-58.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$19.12MAD 181
104.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$15.72MAD 149
-75.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$5.90MAD 56.0
11.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$104MAD 984
655.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$5,832MAD 55.3K
151.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$18.40MAD 175
199.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$45.88MAD 435
-46.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$56.3MAD 534
67.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$52.9MAD 501
39.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$202MAD 1,920
142.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$132MAD 1,250
118.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$386MAD 3,657
131.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$270MAD 2,561
92.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$776MAD 7,361
154.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$512MAD 4,852
182.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$382MAD 3,618
57.68%
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 13, 2026
Last update for Oujda: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $202 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 58% 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 $18.00 in Oujda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $192 – 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 40% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $995 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $104 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 25% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Oujda?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Oujda, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Oujda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Oujda?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oujda costs $664 versus $932 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