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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $911 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,576 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,240 in Rabat, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Rabat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rabat 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$4.73 MAD 44.09

-58.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$48.72 MAD 454

-62.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$6.67 MAD 62.2

12.14%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$2.04 MAD 19.02

-0.98%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$0.63 MAD 5.86

34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.41 MAD 3.78

-12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$5.63 MAD 52.5

-61.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.17 MAD 38.93

-13.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$0.86 MAD 8.06

91.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.47 MAD 4.36

234.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.87 MAD 17.43

-36.36%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$1.92 MAD 17.94

1.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$12.96 MAD 121

24.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$7.15 MAD 66.7

-58.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$11.93 MAD 111

-8.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$1.55 MAD 14.42

74.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$1.44 MAD 13.40

-18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$0.82 MAD 7.67

106.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$0.79 MAD 7.37

102.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$0.72 MAD 6.68

91.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$0.70 MAD 6.49

71.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$0.42 MAD 3.95

59.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$0.64 MAD 5.92

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.39 MAD 40.92

5.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$7.66 MAD 71.4

130.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$2.71 MAD 25.29

-31.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.45 MAD 22.83

34.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.53 MAD 4.93

66.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$27.66 MAD 258

-30.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$0.53 MAD 4.92

156.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$0.88 MAD 8.23

52.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$4.33 MAD 40.34

89.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.52 MAD 14.22

-19.74%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$37.3K MAD 348.0K

-42.79%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$29.6K MAD 276.0K

-23.89%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$41.99 MAD 392

68.30%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$10.87 MAD 101

29.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$39.97 MAD 373

-56.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$30.61 MAD 285

37.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$28.43 MAD 265

-75.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.49 MAD 60.5

-8.78%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$160 MAD 1,490

93.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$6,628 MAD 61.8K

124.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$53.7 MAD 501

3.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$49.14 MAD 458

-46.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$109 MAD 1,015

-23.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$98.0 MAD 914

-28.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$459 MAD 4,279

-5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$259 MAD 2,414

-7.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$1,120 MAD 10.4K

-26.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$746 MAD 6,955

-31.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$2,090 MAD 19.5K

-8.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,204 MAD 11.2K

21.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$739 MAD 6,891

-21.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

3.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rabat: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $459 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 28% higher in Rabat, 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 $49.00 in Rabat. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $209 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

Rabat costs about 6% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,366 in Rabat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $160 in Rabat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Rabat – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Rabat at $911. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $911 in Rabat. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rabat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.