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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $610 per month in Guelmim vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $992 per month in Guelmim vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,374 per month in Guelmim vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Guelmim is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guelmim and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Guelmim 54% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69 MAD 25.04
$1.96 ฿65.9
37.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.16 MAD 235
$18.35 ฿617
37.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.77 MAD 63.2
$7.48 ฿252
-9.49%
Cappuccino
$1.67 MAD 15.59
$2.02 ฿67.8
-17.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.83
$0.85 ฿28.52
-25.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 MAD 2.63
$0.36 ฿11.97
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 MAD 34.00
$2.14 ฿71.9
70.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MAD 34.30
$3.59 ฿121
2.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 MAD 8.07
$1.65 ฿55.5
-47.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.36 MAD 3.37
$1.57 ฿52.7
-77.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 MAD 8.56
$1.19 ฿40.05
-22.69%
Eggs
$1.84 MAD 17.14
$1.94 ฿65.1
-5.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.10 MAD 66.2
$16.19 ฿545
-56.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 MAD 30.23
$2.99 ฿101
8.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.10 MAD 94.2
$10.94 ฿368
-7.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 MAD 12.62
$2.71 ฿91.2
-50.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 MAD 11.42
$1.17 ฿39.27
4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.22
$1.69 ฿56.8
-47.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 MAD 5.95
$1.60 ฿54.0
-60.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.30
$1.38 ฿46.56
-50.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 MAD 6.44
$1.20 ฿40.47
-42.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 MAD 5.86
$0.67 ฿22.51
-5.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.73
$0.56 ฿18.74
8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 MAD 37.26
$4.64 ฿156
-13.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.87 MAD 64.1
$17.62 ฿593
-61.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MAD 12.63
$1.86 ฿62.6
-27.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MAD 15.21
$3.30 ฿111
-50.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 MAD 7.39
$0.88 ฿29.70
-10.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.50 MAD 154
$19.34 ฿651
-14.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 MAD 5.97
$1.36 ฿45.92
-52.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 MAD 5.47
$1.34 ฿45.00
-55.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 MAD 63.2
$8.21 ฿276
-17.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MAD 14.41
$1.22 ฿41.20
27.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K MAD 258.1K
$21.4K ฿718.5K
29.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K MAD 189.7K
$22.5K ฿758.1K
-9.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.31 MAD 264
$70.7 ฿2,378
-59.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.80 MAD 101
$14.04 ฿472
-23.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.06 MAD 206
$17.49 ฿589
26.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.54 MAD 229
$42.15 ฿1,418
-41.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.12 MAD 216
$6.88 ฿231
236.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 MAD 62.4
$5.92 ฿199
13.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$77.8 MAD 726
$309 ฿10.4K
-74.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,955 MAD 18.2K
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-86.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.12 MAD 178
$55.8 ฿1,876
-65.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.63 MAD 155
$26.11 ฿879
-36.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.30 MAD 450
$83.0 ฿2,793
-41.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.65 MAD 304
$70.5 ฿2,371
-53.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 MAD 2,669
$432 ฿14.5K
-33.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$200 MAD 1,863
$239 ฿8,040
-16.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 MAD 5,584
$822 ฿27.7K
-27.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$387 MAD 3,612
$512 ฿17.2K
-24.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,210 MAD 11.3K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-36.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$895 MAD 8,350
$1,467 ฿49.4K
-38.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$317 MAD 2,953
$579 ฿19.5K
-45.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
5
10.00%

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

Last update for Guelmim: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Guelmim versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 83% 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 $25.00 in Guelmim versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Guelmim vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Guelmim 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
Guelmim vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guelmim or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Guelmim, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Guelmim and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $915 per month in Guelmim and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Guelmim or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guelmim, 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 Guelmim and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $77.8 per month in Guelmim and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Guelmim or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 63% 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 $1,000/month in Guelmim or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $610 in Guelmim and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guelmim or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guelmim costs $610 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Guelmim compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Guelmim or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Guelmim. 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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