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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Taza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $968 in Taza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,338 in Taza, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Taza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Taza are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Taza 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$3.93 MAD 36.35

-50.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$19.17 MAD 177

-1.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$6.44 MAD 59.5

22.98%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$1.68 MAD 15.50

13.69%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.63 MAD 5.79

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.37 MAD 3.45

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$5.58 MAD 51.7

-60.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.99 MAD 36.91

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$0.82 MAD 7.59

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.51 MAD 4.68

217.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$1.90 MAD 17.54

-37.89%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$1.92 MAD 17.73

4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$12.94 MAD 120

22.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$6.15 MAD 56.9

-51.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$11.83 MAD 109

-8.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$0.79 MAD 7.32

230.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.42 MAD 13.17

-14.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$0.77 MAD 7.14

120.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$0.58 MAD 5.33

172.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.42 MAD 3.87

214.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$0.42 MAD 3.87

178.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$0.40 MAD 3.67

67.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.61 MAD 5.67

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$4.38 MAD 40.54

3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$7.81 MAD 72.3

133.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$2.42 MAD 22.42

-24.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.49 MAD 23.00

29.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.37 MAD 3.42

140.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$14.21 MAD 131

36.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.53 MAD 4.87

154.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$0.72 MAD 6.70

87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$2.72 MAD 25.18

203.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.46 MAD 13.49

-13.01%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$37.0K MAD 342.0K

-42.79%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$29.3K MAD 271.2K

-23.30%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$34.40 MAD 318

103.92%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$11.18 MAD 103

23.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$39.75 MAD 368

-55.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$16.77 MAD 155

147.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$23.41 MAD 217

-71.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$4.27 MAD 39.48

35.36%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$81.8 MAD 756

274.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$6,536 MAD 60.5K

126.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$22.28 MAD 206

144.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$25.42 MAD 235

2.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$106 MAD 978

-20.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$73.9 MAD 684

-6.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$109 MAD 1,004

290.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$66.6 MAD 616

257.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$219 MAD 2,023

277.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$175 MAD 1,616

194.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

$1,572 MAD 14.5K

30.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

$937 MAD 8,669

62.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$530 MAD 4,906

19.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

3.95%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Taza: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $109 in Taza. 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 20% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Taza. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Taza – so Taza 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 Taza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Taza, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $895 in Taza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $81.8 in Taza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $597 in Taza, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Taza costs $597 versus $852 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 Taza. 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.