Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sidi Slimane Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sidi Slimane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $736 in Sidi Slimane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,133 in Sidi Slimane, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,531 in Sidi Slimane, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Sidi Slimane, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sidi Slimane are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sidi Slimane 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$4.15 MAD 38.82

-49.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$20.93 MAD 196

-6.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.41 MAD 60.0

-11.86%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$2.05 MAD 19.15

-11.71%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.76 MAD 7.07

-6.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.36 MAD 3.36

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$4.14 MAD 38.69

-45.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.25 MAD 30.44

11.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.91 MAD 8.50

115.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.55 MAD 5.16

172.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.60 MAD 14.99

-16.25%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.92 MAD 17.98

17.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$7.75 MAD 72.5

109.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$7.17 MAD 67.1

-58.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.24 MAD 105

-11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.58 MAD 14.76

62.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.47 MAD 13.79

-27.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.90 MAD 8.45

78.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.81 MAD 7.62

87.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.75 MAD 6.98

69.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.76 MAD 7.13

40.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.43 MAD 4.07

67.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.65 MAD 6.10

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.06 MAD 38.02

3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$6.89 MAD 64.5

159.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$2.70 MAD 25.25

-37.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.66 MAD 24.85

6.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.48 MAD 4.48

93.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$17.22 MAD 161

212.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.75 MAD 7.06

64.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.80 MAD 7.45

-27.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.77 MAD 54.0

-58.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.50 MAD 14.00

-6.00%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$35.4K MAD 330.8K

-39.36%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$32.9K MAD 307.6K

-16.88%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$31.98 MAD 299

99.09%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$11.88 MAD 111

8.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$43.00 MAD 402

-52.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$25.14 MAD 235

54.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$19.49 MAD 182

-79.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$5.11 MAD 47.85

31.90%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$111 MAD 1,039

600.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$6,442 MAD 60.3K

126.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$34.65 MAD 324

56.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$45.69 MAD 427

-44.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$72.3 MAD 677

30.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$74.2 MAD 694

-1.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$281 MAD 2,625

74.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$175 MAD 1,640

65.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$488 MAD 4,567

83.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$276 MAD 2,579

87.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,265 MAD 11.8K

54.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$868 MAD 8,118

70.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$270 MAD 2,530

122.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.52

23.23%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sidi Slimane: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $281 in Sidi Slimane. 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 123% 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 $21.00 in Sidi Slimane. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Sidi Slimane – so Sidi Slimane 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 Sidi Slimane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Sidi Slimane, 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 $1,104 in Sidi Slimane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidi Slimane, 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 $111 in Sidi Slimane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 Sidi Slimane, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sidi Slimane 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. Sidi Slimane costs $736 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 Sidi Slimane. 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.