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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $713 in Taroudant, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,136 in Taroudant, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,559 in Taroudant, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Taroudant, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Taroudant are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Taroudant 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$3.81 MAD 35.71

-44.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$32.81 MAD 308

-39.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿190

$6.57 MAD 61.6

-11.87%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.1

$1.44 MAD 13.47

27.08%

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

$0.78 ฿25.49

$0.55 MAD 5.16

41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.35 MAD 3.24

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.8

$7.05 MAD 66.2

-66.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$5.54 MAD 52.0

-33.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$0.72 MAD 6.71

181.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$0.51 MAD 4.82

213.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.53

$1.53 MAD 14.36

-7.19%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$1.63 MAD 15.31

33.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$8.30 MAD 77.9

91.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$3.32 MAD 31.10

-7.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿324

$12.16 MAD 114

-18.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.66 MAD 15.55

58.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.02

$1.50 MAD 14.08

-26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$0.91 MAD 8.56

79.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.3

$0.76 MAD 7.14

101.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.93

$0.70 MAD 6.59

77.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.19

$0.86 MAD 8.02

31.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.26

$0.26 MAD 2.45

184.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.40

$0.62 MAD 5.83

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.30 MAD 40.29

-0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$8.23 MAD 77.2

118.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.8

$2.44 MAD 22.88

-30.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.2

$3.54 MAD 33.20

-18.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.97

$0.55 MAD 5.18

70.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,818

$19.28 MAD 181

186.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.56

$0.91 MAD 8.53

35.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.57

$0.63 MAD 5.88

-15.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿78.9

$7.35 MAD 69.0

-67.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.32

$1.57 MAD 14.73

-8.28%

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

$21.2K ฿696.8K

$35.0K MAD 328.4K

-39.47%

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

$27.3K ฿897.8K

$30.5K MAD 285.7K

-10.36%

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

$64.9 ฿2,135

$37.44 MAD 351

73.42%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$5.25 MAD 49.26

154.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿685

$38.23 MAD 359

-45.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,329

$27.22 MAD 255

48.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$21.31 MAD 200

-81.46%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$6.53 MAD 61.3

2.76%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$104 MAD 978

654.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.2K

$8,639 MAD 81.0K

75.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,849

$32.75 MAD 307

71.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿820

$45.79 MAD 430

-45.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,048

$85.0 MAD 797

9.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,470

$85.9 MAD 806

-12.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$277 MAD 2,594

74.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,446

$178 MAD 1,670

61.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$477 MAD 4,474

90.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.4K

$278 MAD 2,609

90.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.1K

$1,250 MAD 11.7K

58.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.7K

$855 MAD 8,020

69.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Taroudant: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $277 in Taroudant. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $33.00 in Taroudant. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Taroudant – so Taroudant 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 Taroudant: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Taroudant, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,069 in Taroudant. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taroudant, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $104 in Taroudant. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taroudant, where all-in costs run around $713, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Taroudant 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. Taroudant costs $713 versus $950 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 Taroudant. 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.