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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $908 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,593 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,279 in Rabat, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Rabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Rabat 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.63 MAD 42.54

-58.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$48.79 MAD 448

-61.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.80 MAD 62.5

15.00%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.96 MAD 18.04

-0.51%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.61 MAD 5.61

39.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.38 MAD 3.48

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$5.47 MAD 50.2

-61.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.21 MAD 38.67

-11.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.82 MAD 7.51

108.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.48 MAD 4.40

239.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.97 MAD 18.11

-42.13%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.93 MAD 17.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.17 MAD 121

23.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.94 MAD 63.8

-55.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.92 MAD 110

-8.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.61 MAD 14.83

70.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.38 MAD 12.68

-12.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.83 MAD 7.61

95.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.81 MAD 7.44

96.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.68 MAD 6.25

105.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.71 MAD 6.51

64.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.40 MAD 3.64

65.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.63 MAD 5.77

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.39 MAD 40.35

6.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.08 MAD 74.3

130.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.70 MAD 24.85

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.47 MAD 22.73

30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.57 MAD 5.23

57.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$27.06 MAD 249

-29.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.57 MAD 5.27

147.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.83 MAD 7.63

55.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.46 MAD 41.02

75.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.54 MAD 14.11

-17.53%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$36.9K MAD 338.7K

-42.27%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$29.8K MAD 273.8K

-25.45%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$41.32 MAD 380

67.16%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$11.26 MAD 103

25.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$39.59 MAD 364

-54.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$30.30 MAD 278

35.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$29.31 MAD 269

-76.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.56 MAD 60.3

-9.76%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$158 MAD 1,448

89.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,396 MAD 58.8K

133.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$52.4 MAD 482

4.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$48.76 MAD 448

-45.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$108 MAD 990

-21.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$97.1 MAD 892

-27.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$460 MAD 4,226

-6.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$269 MAD 2,471

-11.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$1,103 MAD 10.1K

-27.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$727 MAD 6,680

-29.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,105 MAD 19.3K

-6.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,209 MAD 11.1K

21.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$745 MAD 6,843

-17.08%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rabat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $460 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 21% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Rabat. Groceries tell a different story – $246 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 5% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,362 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $158 in Rabat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% 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 $866, than in Rabat at $908. 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 $866 versus $908 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.