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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $695 in Settat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,131 in Settat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,568 in Settat, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Settat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Settat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Settat 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.33 MAD 31.15

-41.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$33.22 MAD 311

-44.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.01 MAD 65.6

6.70%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.18 MAD 11.06

71.19%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.48 MAD 4.51

77.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.36 MAD 3.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.28 MAD 12.01

67.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.66 MAD 15.50

116.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.84 MAD 7.84

96.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.54 MAD 5.08

190.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.77 MAD 16.59

-32.77%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.08 MAD 19.47

-6.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.53 MAD 89.2

69.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.15 MAD 57.5

-51.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.34 MAD 106

-3.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.52 MAD 14.24

78.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.38 MAD 12.94

-15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.95 MAD 8.89

77.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.88 MAD 8.27

81.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.78 MAD 7.31

76.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.73 MAD 6.86

64.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.42 MAD 3.95

59.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.63 MAD 5.89

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.48 MAD 41.92

3.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$8.22 MAD 76.9

114.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.68 MAD 25.11

-30.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.08 MAD 28.86

7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.43 MAD 4.00

104.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$16.41 MAD 154

17.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.79 MAD 7.44

72.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.48 MAD 4.50

179.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.61 MAD 52.5

46.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.53 MAD 14.32

-20.26%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$37.5K MAD 351.1K

-43.09%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.2K MAD 282.3K

-25.32%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$21.52 MAD 201

228.39%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$5.52 MAD 51.7

154.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$45.53 MAD 426

-61.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$19.52 MAD 183

115.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$23.22 MAD 217

-70.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.52 MAD 61.1

-9.20%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$112 MAD 1,044

176.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$6,248 MAD 58.5K

138.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$43.37 MAD 406

28.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$50.9 MAD 476

-48.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$108 MAD 1,010

-23.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$103 MAD 961

-31.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$280 MAD 2,620

54.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$172 MAD 1,605

39.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$505 MAD 4,724

62.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$301 MAD 2,813

70.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$213 MAD 1,993

171.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

5.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Settat: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Settat. 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 172% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Settat. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Settat – so Settat 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 Settat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Settat, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,042 in Settat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Settat, 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 $112 in Settat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $695 in Settat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Settat costs $695 versus $861 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 Settat. 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.