Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Western Sahara
For one person, living is cheaper in Western Sahara: $118 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Western Sahara Living Index32Cost of Living Index in Western SaharaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 335.5% more expensive than Western Sahara without rent, and 668.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 428.4% more expensive than Western Sahara without rent, and 747.2% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$3.90 MAD 38.01
-45.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
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Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$3.27 MAD 31.88
67.28%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$2.02 MAD 19.69
-16.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$0.41 MAD 4.00
60.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.29 MAD 2.82
17.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
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White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
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Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
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Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
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Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
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Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
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Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
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Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
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Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
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Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
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Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
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Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
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Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
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Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
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Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
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Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
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Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
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Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
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🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.68 MAD 6.58
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
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Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$0.73 MAD 7.10
67.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$0.68 MAD 6.64
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
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Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.28 MAD 12.47
17.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
-
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Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
-
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
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-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
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Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$19.68 MAD 192
3.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
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Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
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Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$45.66 MAD 445
20.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
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Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
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1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
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3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
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Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for Western Sahara: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Western Sahara - * 0% 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Western Sahara - * 0% 100%
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Western Sahara $21 * 17.8% 81.3% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Western Sahara $20 * 17.1% 79.1% $74
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Western Sahara $68 * 59.1% 11.8% $9.1
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Western Sahara $6.9 * 5.9% 88.7% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Western Sahara - * 0% 100%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Western Sahara - * 0% 100%
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Western Sahara - * 0% 100%
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Western Sahara $46 * 20.8% 81.3% $198
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Western Sahara $20 * 9% 81.5% $87
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Western Sahara $139 * 63.4% 42.7% $104
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Western Sahara $15 * 6.8% 87.8% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Western Sahara - * 0% 100%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇪🇭 Western Sahara
Weather
Population
127,240
612,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Western Sahara 11,100 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Western Sahara
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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