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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $594 in Taza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $955 in Taza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,316 in Taza, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 55% more than Taza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Taza are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Taza 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$3.67 MAD 33.90

-42.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$18.90 MAD 175

4.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$6.07 MAD 56.0

-3.62%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.58 MAD 14.55

11.39%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.68 MAD 6.26

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.36 MAD 3.30

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$5.36 MAD 49.48

-53.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$3.18 MAD 29.40

22.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.86 MAD 7.94

120.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.53 MAD 4.88

215.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.87 MAD 17.24

-27.81%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.91 MAD 17.67

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$11.77 MAD 109

35.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$6.25 MAD 57.7

-54.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$12.48 MAD 115

-15.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$0.74 MAD 6.83

221.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.36 MAD 12.57

-21.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$0.82 MAD 7.60

85.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.52 MAD 4.78

188.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.41 MAD 3.77

212.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.41 MAD 3.82

168.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.39 MAD 3.64

76.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.57 MAD 5.29

-14.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$4.43 MAD 40.91

-3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$7.89 MAD 72.8

112.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.41 MAD 22.26

-31.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.70 MAD 24.91

4.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.39 MAD 3.63

130.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$14.07 MAD 130

290.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.79 MAD 7.26

51.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.74 MAD 6.82

-27.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.63 MAD 24.33

-9.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.44 MAD 13.26

-0.69%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$35.1K MAD 324.0K

-39.92%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$32.0K MAD 295.8K

-15.29%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$33.50 MAD 309

93.25%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$10.15 MAD 93.8

29.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$35.90 MAD 332

-45.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$16.37 MAD 151

140.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$24.04 MAD 222

-84.32%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.38 MAD 40.47

51.14%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$79.6 MAD 735

911.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$7,051 MAD 65.1K

114.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$21.47 MAD 198

155.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$25.15 MAD 232

1.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$94.7 MAD 875

-2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$70.3 MAD 649

6.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$106 MAD 977

341.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$65.3 MAD 603

331.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$216 MAD 1,993

313.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$172 MAD 1,589

202.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$1,275 MAD 11.8K

55.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$881 MAD 8,132

66.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$519 MAD 4,789

14.18%

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 17, 2026

Last update for Taza: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $106 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 14% 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 $19.00 in Taza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $194 – making Taza the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 55% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $892 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $79.6 in Taza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 Taza, where all-in costs run around $594, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Taza 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. Taza costs $594 versus $920 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.