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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $796 per month in Ifrane vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,210 per month in Ifrane vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,623 per month in Ifrane vs $1,838 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 – Ifrane 40% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.53 MAD 32.99
$1.96 ฿65.8
80.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.77 MAD 110
$18.35 ฿617
-35.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 MAD 73.1
$7.48 ฿252
4.41%
Cappuccino
$1.33 MAD 12.48
$2.02 ฿67.8
-34.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MAD 6.48
$0.85 ฿28.50
-18.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MAD 4.38
$0.36 ฿11.96
30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.81 MAD 26.29
$2.14 ฿71.8
31.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 MAD 40.69
$3.59 ฿121
21.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 MAD 8.54
$1.65 ฿55.5
-44.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 MAD 7.06
$1.57 ฿52.7
-52.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 MAD 14.09
$1.19 ฿40.02
26.89%
Eggs
$1.92 MAD 17.98
$1.94 ฿65.1
-1.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.25 MAD 105
$16.19 ฿544
-30.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.20 MAD 67.4
$2.99 ฿101
140.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 MAD 108
$10.94 ฿368
5.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 MAD 9.71
$2.71 ฿91.2
-61.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 MAD 11.56
$1.17 ฿39.25
5.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 MAD 7.89
$1.69 ฿56.7
-50.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 MAD 4.90
$1.60 ฿54.0
-67.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.38
$1.38 ฿46.54
-50.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 MAD 4.23
$1.20 ฿40.45
-62.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 MAD 3.98
$0.67 ฿22.50
-35.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.43
$0.56 ฿18.73
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 MAD 40.34
$4.64 ฿156
-7.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.26 MAD 77.3
$17.62 ฿593
-53.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 MAD 26.18
$1.86 ฿62.5
50.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 MAD 26.37
$3.30 ฿111
-14.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 MAD 4.68
$0.88 ฿29.68
-43.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.32 MAD 153
$19.34 ฿650
-15.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.78 MAD 7.34
$1.36 ฿45.90
-42.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 MAD 7.74
$1.34 ฿44.98
-38.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MAD 49.07
$8.21 ฿276
-36.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MAD 14.32
$1.22 ฿41.18
25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K MAD 348.5K
$21.4K ฿718.1K
74.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K MAD 268.5K
$22.5K ฿757.7K
27.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.71 MAD 456
$70.7 ฿2,376
-31.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.16 MAD 114
$14.04 ฿472
-13.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 MAD 399
$17.49 ฿588
144.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.73 MAD 231
$42.15 ฿1,417
-41.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.60 MAD 221
$6.88 ฿231
243.02%
Cinema Ticket
$8.71 MAD 81.5
$5.92 ฿199
47.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MAD 1,942
$309 ฿10.4K
-32.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,501 MAD 51.5K
$14.9K ฿500.4K
-63.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 MAD 630
$55.8 ฿1,875
20.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6 MAD 501
$26.11 ฿878
105.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MAD 1,022
$83.0 ฿2,792
31.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.0 MAD 860
$70.5 ฿2,369
30.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 MAD 2,574
$432 ฿14.5K
-36.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 MAD 1,598
$239 ฿8,035
-28.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 MAD 4,763
$822 ฿27.7K
-38.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 MAD 2,889
$512 ฿17.2K
-39.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,066 MAD 9,973
$1,915 ฿64.4K
-44.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$820 MAD 7,673
$1,467 ฿49.3K
-44.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$300 MAD 2,810
$579 ฿19.5K
-48.16%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Ifrane 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 93% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $243 – 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,194 per month in Ifrane 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $208 per month in Ifrane 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 Ifrane or in 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $796 in Ifrane and $861 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 $796 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 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 to 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.

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