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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $869 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,515 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,161 in Rabat, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Rabat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Rabat 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.21 MAD 39.60

-50.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$43.15 MAD 406

-54.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.38 MAD 69.4

-21.54%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.93 MAD 18.12

-5.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.64 MAD 6.01

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.35 MAD 3.25

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$5.35 MAD 50.3

-56.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.29 MAD 30.95

12.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.85 MAD 8.03

138.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.68 MAD 6.40

135.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.89 MAD 17.73

-24.87%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.98 MAD 18.65

10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$11.90 MAD 112

33.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.68 MAD 62.7

-54.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$12.45 MAD 117

-20.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.71 MAD 16.05

53.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.46 MAD 13.73

-24.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.88 MAD 8.23

85.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.92 MAD 8.61

66.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.75 MAD 7.07

65.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.77 MAD 7.20

46.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.42 MAD 3.92

76.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.59 MAD 5.54

-15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.23 MAD 39.71

1.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.84 MAD 73.7

129.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.68 MAD 25.18

-36.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.69 MAD 25.24

7.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.55 MAD 5.19

70.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$26.52 MAD 249

108.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.72 MAD 6.74

70.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.90 MAD 8.44

-41.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.15 MAD 39.00

-42.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.57 MAD 14.80

-8.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.6K MAD 324.7K

-38.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$31.5K MAD 295.8K

-13.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.9 ฿2,145

$35.38 MAD 333

83.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.35 ฿441

$10.58 MAD 99.4

26.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$33.25 MAD 312

-37.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$30.18 MAD 284

33.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$27.55 MAD 259

-85.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.52 MAD 61.3

2.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$787 ฿26.0K

$186 MAD 1,745

323.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,068 MAD 66.4K

113.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$50.3 MAD 473

11.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$44.47 MAD 418

-43.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$93.4 MAD 878

-0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$69.0 MAD 648

8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$519 MAD 4,877

-6.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$278 MAD 2,609

3.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,114 MAD 10.5K

-18.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$674 MAD 6,329

-21.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,018 MAD 19.0K

-1.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,187 MAD 11.2K

22.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$749 MAD 7,036

-19.16%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Rabat: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $519 in Rabat. 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 24% higher in Rabat, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $43.00 in Rabat. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $210 in Rabat – so Rabat wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Rabat, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,303 in Rabat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rabat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $186 in Rabat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rabat, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Rabat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rabat costs $869 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Rabat. 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.