🙂A single person spends $617 per month in Guelmim vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $997 per month in Guelmim vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,378 per month in Guelmim vs $1,835 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 – Guelmim54% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76MAD 25.34
$1.94฿63.5
42.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.29MAD 232
$18.64฿609
35.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.72MAD 61.8
$7.82฿255
-14.07%
Cappuccino
$1.75MAD 16.09
$1.95฿63.8
-10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.09
$0.85฿27.77
-22.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26MAD 2.36
$0.35฿11.58
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.73MAD 34.26
$2.13฿69.6
75.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72MAD 34.20
$3.73฿122
-0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91MAD 8.41
$1.71฿56.0
-46.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.37MAD 3.39
$1.63฿53.2
-77.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92MAD 8.44
$1.14฿37.15
-19.30%
Eggs
$1.79MAD 16.50
$1.93฿63.1
-7.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.15MAD 65.7
$16.21฿530
-55.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.32MAD 30.47
$3.12฿102
6.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.12MAD 93.0
$10.90฿356
-7.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40MAD 12.87
$2.75฿90.0
-49.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.42
$1.21฿39.52
2.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.51
$1.62฿53.0
-49.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59MAD 5.46
$1.59฿51.8
-62.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 5.97
$1.40฿45.70
-53.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63MAD 5.82
$1.17฿38.17
-46.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68MAD 6.26
$0.66฿21.60
3.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64MAD 5.88
$0.53฿17.22
20.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09MAD 37.58
$4.69฿153
-12.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.12MAD 65.5
$18.66฿609
-61.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30MAD 11.95
$1.80฿58.8
-27.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MAD 14.41
$3.23฿106
-51.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MAD 6.83
$0.90฿29.26
-17.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.62MAD 153
$19.21฿628
-13.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69MAD 6.31
$1.41฿45.91
-51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63MAD 5.75
$1.29฿42.12
-51.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.68MAD 61.4
$7.84฿256
-14.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57MAD 14.44
$1.27฿41.58
23.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3KMAD 251.1K
$21.3K฿694.9K
28.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KMAD 193.0K
$22.2K฿725.4K
-5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.49MAD 262
$69.1฿2,256
-58.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.86MAD 99.8
$14.08฿460
-22.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.01MAD 202
$18.00฿588
22.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.45MAD 225
$41.06฿1,341
-40.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.38MAD 215
$6.96฿227
235.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67MAD 61.3
$5.92฿193
12.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$77.0MAD 707
$299฿9,766
-74.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,929MAD 17.7K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-87.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.31MAD 177
$54.7฿1,787
-64.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.56MAD 152
$26.77฿874
-38.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.32MAD 453
$85.0฿2,776
-41.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.53MAD 308
$70.6฿2,306
-52.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$289MAD 2,660
$428฿14.0K
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195MAD 1,796
$237฿7,752
-17.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588MAD 5,404
$801฿26.2K
-26.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383MAD 3,523
$515฿16.8K
-25.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,589MAD 14.6K
$1,975฿64.5K
-19.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$943MAD 8,668
$1,475฿48.2K
-36.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelmim
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$331MAD 3,041
$617฿20.2K
-46.41%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Guelmim versus $428 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 87% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Guelmim vs $246 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 40% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $925 per month in Guelmim and $1,300 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $77.0 per month in Guelmim and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 64% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $617 in Guelmim and $866 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 $617 versus $866 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 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.