🙂A single person spends $799 per month in Ifrane vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,203 per month in Ifrane vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,607 per month in Ifrane vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ifrane is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ifrane and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ifrane40% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52MAD 32.42
$1.94฿63.5
81.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.72MAD 108
$18.64฿609
-37.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08MAD 74.4
$7.82฿255
3.32%
Cappuccino
$1.29MAD 11.83
$1.95฿63.8
-33.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MAD 6.32
$0.85฿27.77
-18.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MAD 4.26
$0.35฿11.58
31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67MAD 24.62
$2.13฿69.6
25.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42MAD 40.69
$3.73฿122
18.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90MAD 8.32
$1.71฿56.0
-47.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70MAD 6.49
$1.63฿53.2
-57.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MAD 14.29
$1.14฿37.15
35.96%
Eggs
$1.99MAD 18.34
$1.93฿63.1
3.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.06MAD 102
$16.21฿530
-31.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.53MAD 69.4
$3.12฿102
141.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.68MAD 108
$10.90฿356
7.16%
Apples(1kg)
$0.95MAD 8.75
$2.75฿90.0
-65.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19MAD 10.92
$1.21฿39.52
-1.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90MAD 8.27
$1.62฿53.0
-44.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56MAD 5.19
$1.59฿51.8
-64.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63MAD 5.80
$1.40฿45.70
-55.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42MAD 3.87
$1.17฿38.17
-64.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45MAD 4.17
$0.66฿21.60
-31.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.35
$0.53฿17.22
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43MAD 40.84
$4.69฿153
-5.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.56MAD 78.8
$18.66฿609
-54.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81MAD 25.87
$1.80฿58.8
56.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MAD 26.88
$3.23฿106
-9.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.72
$0.90฿29.26
-43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.33MAD 150
$19.21฿628
-14.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MAD 7.27
$1.41฿45.91
-43.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79MAD 7.27
$1.29฿42.12
-38.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.23MAD 48.13
$7.84฿256
-33.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MAD 13.48
$1.27฿41.58
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMAD 340.7K
$21.3K฿694.9K
73.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KMAD 264.8K
$22.2K฿725.4K
29.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.6MAD 466
$69.1฿2,256
-26.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27MAD 113
$14.08฿460
-12.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69MAD 384
$18.00฿588
131.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.02MAD 221
$41.06฿1,341
-41.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.45MAD 216
$6.96฿227
236.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.51MAD 78.4
$5.92฿193
43.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$203MAD 1,865
$299฿9,766
-32.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,487MAD 50.5K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-63.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4MAD 612
$54.7฿1,787
21.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0MAD 488
$26.77฿874
97.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110MAD 1,012
$85.0฿2,776
29.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MAD 852
$70.6฿2,306
31.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284MAD 2,617
$428฿14.0K
-33.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,579
$237฿7,752
-27.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503MAD 4,629
$801฿26.2K
-37.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$311MAD 2,864
$515฿16.8K
-39.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,461MAD 13.5K
$1,975฿64.5K
-26.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$833MAD 7,669
$1,475฿48.2K
-43.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$299MAD 2,752
$617฿20.2K
-51.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.29
5
5.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ifrane: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Ifrane 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 107% 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 $12.00 in Ifrane versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $246 – making Ifrane 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
Ifrane vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Ifrane, 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 Ifrane vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,198 per month in Ifrane 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, Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ifrane, 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 Ifrane and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $203 per month in Ifrane 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 Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 $1,200/month in Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $799 in Ifrane and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ifrane costs $799 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 Ifrane 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 Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ifrane. 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.