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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $874 in Tangier, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,341 in Tangier, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,808 in Tangier, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Tangier, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.43 MAD 40.68

-56.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$30.25 MAD 278

-38.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.23 MAD 66.5

8.16%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.72 MAD 15.77

13.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.70 MAD 6.47

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.33 MAD 3.00

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.94 MAD 36.20

-45.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.31 MAD 30.39

12.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.05 MAD 9.65

62.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.88 MAD 8.04

85.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.68 MAD 15.47

-32.14%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.19 MAD 20.15

-11.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.24 MAD 94.1

58.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.86 MAD 63.1

-54.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.55 MAD 115

-13.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.30 MAD 11.92

111.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.36 MAD 12.49

-11.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.76 MAD 6.95

113.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.79 MAD 7.28

101.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.68 MAD 6.26

105.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.70 MAD 6.46

67.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.54 MAD 4.92

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.60 MAD 5.53

-11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.50 MAD 41.38

4.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.61 MAD 88.3

94.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$3.25 MAD 29.90

-44.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.26 MAD 29.95

-0.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.45 MAD 4.16

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$16.55 MAD 152

16.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.52 MAD 4.82

171.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.48 MAD 4.39

168.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.97 MAD 91.6

-21.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.62 MAD 14.85

-21.60%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$37.4K MAD 343.5K

-43.07%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$23.6K MAD 217.1K

-5.99%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$82.7 MAD 760

-16.48%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$11.28 MAD 104

24.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$39.92 MAD 367

-54.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$28.60 MAD 263

43.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$39.05 MAD 359

-82.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$7.52 MAD 69.1

-21.28%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$96.9 MAD 890

208.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,455 MAD 59.3K

131.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$31.68 MAD 291

72.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$45.40 MAD 417

-41.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$86.9 MAD 799

-2.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$83.9 MAD 771

-15.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$440 MAD 4,047

-2.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$237 MAD 2,182

-0.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$881 MAD 8,092

-8.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$441 MAD 4,048

17.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,884 MAD 17.3K

4.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,255 MAD 11.5K

17.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$521 MAD 4,791

18.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.35

14.94%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tangier: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $440 in Tangier. 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 18% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Tangier. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $214 in Tangier – so Tangier 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 Tangier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tangier costs about 1% 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 $1,310 in Tangier. 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 $96.9 in Tangier. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Tangier – 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 Tangier at $874. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tangier it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $874 in Tangier. 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, Tangier makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.