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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $666 in Settat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,026 in Settat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,386 in Settat, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Settat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Settat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Settat 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.20 MAD 29.90

-35.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$32.56 MAD 305

-39.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.56 MAD 61.4

-13.87%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$1.15 MAD 10.75

57.39%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.47 MAD 4.40

51.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.38 MAD 3.52

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.27 MAD 11.88

76.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.65 MAD 15.44

120.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.89 MAD 8.36

120.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.86 MAD 8.06

74.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.62 MAD 15.18

-17.28%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$2.00 MAD 18.68

13.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$8.03 MAD 75.1

102.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.48 MAD 51.3

-46.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$12.02 MAD 112

-17.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.68 MAD 15.76

52.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.49 MAD 13.92

-28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.99 MAD 9.26

62.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.77 MAD 7.24

97.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.75 MAD 7.00

69.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.81 MAD 7.53

32.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.26 MAD 2.44

176.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.52 MAD 4.88

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.32 MAD 40.43

-3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$8.21 MAD 76.8

117.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.31 MAD 21.63

-26.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$3.45 MAD 32.30

-17.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.42 MAD 3.91

121.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$10.60 MAD 99.2

408.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.79 MAD 7.35

55.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.68 MAD 6.34

-14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$7.37 MAD 69.0

-67.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.57 MAD 14.73

-10.19%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$35.2K MAD 328.9K

-39.00%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$30.5K MAD 285.4K

-10.40%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$21.41 MAD 200

197.38%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$5.45 MAD 51.0

135.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$37.95 MAD 355

-46.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$19.52 MAD 183

98.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$10.78 MAD 101

-63.17%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$6.66 MAD 62.3

1.20%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$106 MAD 991

634.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$8,646 MAD 80.9K

68.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$32.76 MAD 306

65.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$47.54 MAD 445

-46.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$84.4 MAD 790

11.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$87.5 MAD 818

-16.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$219 MAD 2,046

123.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$162 MAD 1,514

78.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$870 MAD 8,138

2.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$235 MAD 2,197

120.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$220 MAD 2,054

174.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.5

59.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Settat: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $219 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 174% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Settat. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $191 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 42% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $999 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $106 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Settat, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Settat 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. Settat costs $666 versus $947 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.