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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $701 in Settat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,139 in Settat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,577 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 35% lower, Settat 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$3.25 MAD 30.05

-40.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$33.41 MAD 309

-44.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$7.23 MAD 66.8

8.16%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.19 MAD 10.99

63.87%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.44 MAD 4.10

93.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.33 MAD 3.02

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.29 MAD 11.94

65.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.65 MAD 15.26

126.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$0.90 MAD 8.28

90.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.59 MAD 5.42

176.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.78 MAD 16.43

-35.96%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$2.00 MAD 18.47

-3.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$9.68 MAD 89.4

67.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.13 MAD 56.7

-49.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$11.09 MAD 102

-1.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.52 MAD 14.06

80.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$1.39 MAD 12.83

-12.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$0.90 MAD 8.30

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$0.88 MAD 8.12

80.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.80 MAD 7.35

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.74 MAD 6.84

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$0.42 MAD 3.92

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.59 MAD 5.48

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$4.36 MAD 40.25

7.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$8.06 MAD 74.5

131.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$2.71 MAD 25.02

-33.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.94 MAD 27.19

9.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.43 MAD 3.94

109.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

$16.21 MAD 150

18.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.80 MAD 7.42

76.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.51 MAD 4.73

152.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$5.45 MAD 50.4

43.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$1.53 MAD 14.16

-16.99%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$36.9K MAD 340.4K

-42.26%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$29.7K MAD 274.0K

-25.11%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$21.57 MAD 199

220.21%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$5.42 MAD 50.1

159.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$45.19 MAD 417

-60.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$19.06 MAD 176

115.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

$23.03 MAD 213

-69.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$6.66 MAD 61.5

-11.11%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$115 MAD 1,060

160.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$6,295 MAD 58.2K

137.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$42.80 MAD 395

27.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$50.4 MAD 465

-46.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$107 MAD 992

-20.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$103 MAD 951

-31.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$275 MAD 2,542

55.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$172 MAD 1,590

37.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$513 MAD 4,738

56.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$301 MAD 2,784

71.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$220 MAD 2,036

180.09%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Settat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $275 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 180% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Settat. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $195 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,052 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Settat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $701 in Settat, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Settat costs $701 versus $866 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.