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 $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 Mai 32% lower, Oujda 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$4.06 MAD 38.46
-48.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$18.39 MAD 174
6.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$5.22 MAD 49.50
8.62%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$1.54 MAD 14.60
17.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$0.49 MAD 4.64
57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$0.40 MAD 3.82
-12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$2.60 MAD 24.65
-15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$3.47 MAD 32.89
9.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$0.86 MAD 8.12
138.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$0.25 MAD 2.36
504.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
$1.93 MAD 18.28
-27.46%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$1.93 MAD 18.29
17.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
$12.34 MAD 117
31.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
$4.08 MAD 38.69
-28.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
$8.76 MAD 83.1
7.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
$1.59 MAD 15.06
68.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
$1.39 MAD 13.20
-21.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
$1.01 MAD 9.55
60.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
$0.94 MAD 8.90
55.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
$0.75 MAD 7.14
70.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
$1.00 MAD 9.44
6.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$0.52 MAD 4.91
38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
$0.68 MAD 6.48
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$4.03 MAD 38.24
4.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$12.09 MAD 115
51.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$2.54 MAD 24.11
-35.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
$2.79 MAD 26.47
3.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
$0.35 MAD 3.36
151.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
$19.36 MAD 184
177.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
$0.71 MAD 6.76
64.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$0.61 MAD 5.77
-4.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
$5.09 MAD 48.27
-53.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
$1.54 MAD 14.63
-5.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
$35.2K MAD 334.0K
-40.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
$31.1K MAD 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
$57.2 MAD 542
11.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
$10.42 MAD 98.8
23.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
$49.03 MAD 465
-58.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
$19.12 MAD 181
104.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
$15.72 MAD 149
-75.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$5.90 MAD 56.0
11.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
$104 MAD 984
655.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
$5,832 MAD 55.3K
151.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
$18.40 MAD 175
199.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
$45.88 MAD 435
-46.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
$56.3 MAD 534
67.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
$52.9 MAD 501
39.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
$202 MAD 1,920
142.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
$132 MAD 1,250
118.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
$386 MAD 3,657
131.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
$270 MAD 2,561
92.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$776 MAD 7,361
154.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
$512 MAD 4,852
182.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oujda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
$382 MAD 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.

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