Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Taroudant

For one person, living is cheaper in Taroudant: $705 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Taroudant
🇲🇦 Morocco
$705
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Taroudant

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Taroudant actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $705 in Taroudant, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Taroudant $705

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,101 in Taroudant, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Taroudant $1,101

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,497 in Taroudant, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Taroudant $1,497

Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Taroudant, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Taroudant are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Taroudant 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$3.72 MAD 36.26
-38.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$30.72 MAD 299
-36.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$6.25 MAD 61.0
-10.24%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$1.35 MAD 13.17
22.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$0.51 MAD 4.97
37.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$0.33 MAD 3.25
-6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$6.80 MAD 66.3
-64.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$5.64 MAD 55.0
-34.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$0.74 MAD 7.18
163.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$0.54 MAD 5.27
161.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$1.49 MAD 14.49
-12.08%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.52 MAD 14.82
43.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$8.03 MAD 78.3
107.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$3.04 MAD 29.61
-9.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$11.48 MAD 112
-20.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$1.57 MAD 15.27
52.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$1.44 MAD 14.00
-28.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$0.94 MAD 9.17
73.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$0.74 MAD 7.22
102.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$0.69 MAD 6.72
86.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$0.75 MAD 7.35
48.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$0.23 MAD 2.24
213.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$0.56 MAD 5.48
-5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$4.03 MAD 39.31
6.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$7.52 MAD 73.3
138.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$2.26 MAD 22.05
-30.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$3.40 MAD 33.15
-16.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
$0.54 MAD 5.28
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$21.03 MAD 205
153.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$0.88 MAD 8.53
37.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$0.64 MAD 6.22
-10.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$7.32 MAD 71.3
-67.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.53 MAD 14.95
-5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$33.9K MAD 330.3K
-38.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$29.4K MAD 286.6K
-8.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$36.17 MAD 353
72.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$5.12 MAD 49.90
136.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$36.77 MAD 359
-45.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
$26.57 MAD 259
39.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
$21.18 MAD 207
-82.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$6.56 MAD 63.9
-0.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$99.0 MAD 965
700.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$8,251 MAD 80.4K
79.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$32.26 MAD 314
66.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$44.82 MAD 437
-45.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$83.8 MAD 817
8.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$81.7 MAD 797
-12.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
$274 MAD 2,674
66.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
$171 MAD 1,663
74.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
$462 MAD 4,502
96.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
$270 MAD 2,631
105.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
$1,211 MAD 11.8K
59.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
$819 MAD 7,983
76.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Taroudant
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.5
23.78%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Taroudant: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Taroudant
$171 42.7% $127
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Taroudant
$167 29.2% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Taroudant
$109 0.9% $1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Taroudant
$78 17.3% $16
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Taroudant
$113 44.3% $35
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Taroudant
$27 55.1% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Taroudant
$40 20.7% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $274 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 $31.00 in Taroudant. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Chiang Mai vs $167 in Taroudant – so Taroudant wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇦 Taroudant
🕒 Local time
08:08 8:08 AM
02:08 2:08 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
80,149
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Taroudant 10,560 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Taroudant

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Taroudant?
Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Taroudant, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Taroudant?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,057 in Taroudant. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Taroudant?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Taroudant?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $99.0 in Taroudant. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Taroudant?
Groceries cost about 41% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Taroudant?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taroudant, where all-in costs run around $705, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Taroudant it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Taroudant?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Taroudant costs $705 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Taroudant?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Taroudant?
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.

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