Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tetouan

For one person, living is cheaper in Tetouan: $662 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$938
/mo nomad
Tetouan
🇲🇦 Morocco
$662
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Tetouan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $662 in Tetouan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $938
  • Tetouan $662

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $999 in Tetouan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,426
  • Tetouan $999

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,336 in Tetouan, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,914
  • Tetouan $1,336

Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Tetouan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Tetouan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Tetouan 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ฿75.4
$3.04 MAD 29.61
-25.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.18 ฿641
$17.99 MAD 175
6.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ฿187
$8.23 MAD 80.2
-32.08%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ฿57.6
$1.86 MAD 18.09
-7.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.54
$0.75 MAD 7.27
-14.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿11.18
$0.33 MAD 3.21
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿78.7
$2.62 MAD 25.54
-9.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ฿130
$3.06 MAD 29.82
27.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.6
$0.89 MAD 8.70
130.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿46.70
$0.19 MAD 1.85
636.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.89
$1.96 MAD 19.14
-34.69%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.3
$1.60 MAD 15.58
40.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.94 ฿566
$5.90 MAD 57.5
187.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 ฿91.6
$6.93 MAD 67.5
-60.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ฿313
$12.23 MAD 119
-23.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.3
$1.63 MAD 15.88
47.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.92
$1.38 MAD 13.48
-26.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ฿53.9
$0.88 MAD 8.63
82.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$0.86 MAD 8.42
76.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.90
$0.90 MAD 8.80
42.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.22
$0.73 MAD 7.16
52.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.09
$0.53 MAD 5.16
35.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.63 MAD 6.13
-17.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 ฿145
$3.83 MAD 37.32
13.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 ฿593
$8.34 MAD 81.3
112.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$2.15 MAD 20.99
-24.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.3
$2.54 MAD 24.72
12.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.31
$0.54 MAD 5.23
57.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 ฿1,801
$12.56 MAD 122
329.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.18
$0.75 MAD 7.34
56.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿19.00
$0.85 MAD 8.29
-32.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 ฿79.2
$3.30 MAD 32.20
-28.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$1.53 MAD 14.95
-5.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ฿684.3K
$33.9K MAD 330.4K
-39.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.1K
$30.8K MAD 300.3K
-13.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$43.42 MAD 423
43.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 ฿410
$10.72 MAD 105
14.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.97 ฿668
$41.31 MAD 403
-51.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.91 ฿1,267
$15.00 MAD 146
152.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.76 ฿126
$12.02 MAD 117
-68.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿224
$3.83 MAD 37.34
75.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 ฿26.6K
$48.53 MAD 473
1542.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿495.7K
$5,823 MAD 56.8K
154.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 ฿1,780
$18.06 MAD 176
194.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05 ฿837
$47.28 MAD 461
-47.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 ฿3,062
$55.8 MAD 544
64.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,455
$65.1 MAD 635
12.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 ฿15.5K
$202 MAD 1,969
129.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 ฿10.2K
$160 MAD 1,565
89.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ฿30.6K
$405 MAD 3,952
125.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$254 MAD 2,481
117.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,912 ฿63.9K
$1,092 MAD 10.6K
75.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 ฿48.1K
$744 MAD 7,251
93.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
$405 MAD 3,945
47.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.5
1.27%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Tetouan: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$305
Tetouan
$160 47.3% $144
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$238
Tetouan
$185 22.4% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Tetouan
$84 23.5% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$95
Tetouan
$95 0.9% $0.9
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Tetouan
$95 19.9% $16
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Tetouan
$20 67.9% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Tetouan
$23 55.9% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $202 in Tetouan. 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 47% 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 $18.00 in Tetouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $185 – making Tetouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇲🇦 Tetouan
🕒 Local time
03:24 3:24 AM
21:24 9:24 PM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
380,787
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 17, 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 Tetouan 10,030 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Tetouan

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 Tetouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tetouan?
Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Tetouan, 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 Tetouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $992 in Tetouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tetouan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tetouan, 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 Tetouan?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Chiang Mai and $48.53 in Tetouan. 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 Tetouan?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Tetouan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tetouan, where all-in costs run around $662, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Tetouan 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 Tetouan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tetouan costs $662 versus $938 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 Tetouan?
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 Tetouan?
If budget matters most, go with Tetouan. 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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