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 $771 per month in Ifrane vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Ifrane vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,534 per month in Ifrane vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ifrane is about 19% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ifrane and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ifrane 44% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 MAD 33.62
$2.08 ฿68.5
72.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.69 MAD 109
$19.64 ฿646
-40.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.61 MAD 71.2
$5.65 ฿186
34.69%
Cappuccino
$1.27 MAD 11.89
$1.81 ฿59.3
-29.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MAD 7.15
$0.71 ฿23.44
7.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MAD 3.35
$0.32 ฿10.38
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 MAD 25.91
$2.24 ฿73.5
23.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 MAD 40.20
$3.63 ฿119
18.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.43
$1.96 ฿64.4
-54.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 MAD 7.20
$1.50 ฿49.38
-48.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MAD 13.75
$1.34 ฿43.92
9.70%
Eggs
$1.86 MAD 17.43
$2.26 ฿74.4
-17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.78 MAD 101
$16.26 ฿534
-33.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.43 MAD 69.5
$2.95 ฿97.1
151.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 MAD 120
$9.94 ฿327
28.77%
Apples (1kg)
$0.99 MAD 9.21
$2.57 ฿84.5
-61.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 MAD 11.32
$1.06 ฿34.72
14.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.61
$1.61 ฿53.0
-49.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 MAD 5.26
$1.52 ฿49.96
-63.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.36
$1.27 ฿41.76
-46.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 MAD 4.15
$1.07 ฿35.05
-58.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 MAD 4.67
$0.72 ฿23.67
-30.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.27
$0.51 ฿16.72
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 MAD 40.07
$4.19 ฿138
2.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.42 MAD 78.8
$17.87 ฿587
-52.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 MAD 25.48
$1.69 ฿55.7
60.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 MAD 29.54
$2.84 ฿93.2
11.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MAD 4.73
$0.93 ฿30.42
-45.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.63 MAD 165
$53.9 ฿1,770
-67.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 MAD 8.19
$1.23 ฿40.58
-28.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 MAD 3.13
$0.58 ฿18.96
-43.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 MAD 45.64
$2.42 ฿79.7
101.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 MAD 14.90
$1.41 ฿46.42
12.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K MAD 299.3K
$21.4K ฿704.9K
49.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K MAD 298.0K
$27.3K ฿898.5K
16.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.6 MAD 473
$63.7 ฿2,093
-20.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.79 MAD 110
$12.85 ฿423
-8.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.60 MAD 417
$20.22 ฿665
120.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.01 MAD 225
$38.74 ฿1,274
-38.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.95 MAD 177
$3.97 ฿130
377.33%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 MAD 71.5
$6.74 ฿221
13.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 MAD 988
$778 ฿25.6K
-86.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,684 MAD 53.2K
$14.6K ฿480.2K
-61.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 MAD 574
$54.3 ฿1,785
13.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.68 MAD 465
$25.45 ฿836
95.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MAD 959
$94.3 ฿3,101
8.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3 MAD 620
$73.4 ฿2,414
-9.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$294 MAD 2,755
$490 ฿16.1K
-39.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 MAD 1,522
$289 ฿9,510
-43.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$527 MAD 4,933
$894 ฿29.4K
-40.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 MAD 2,950
$517 ฿17.0K
-39.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,085 MAD 10.1K
$1,955 ฿64.3K
-44.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$811 MAD 7,585
$1,477 ฿48.5K
-45.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ifrane
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$301 MAD 2,816
$602 ฿19.8K
-50.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
5.57
-10.05%

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

Last update for Ifrane: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $294 in Ifrane versus $490 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 100% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $240 – 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 23% more than Ifrane, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $1,157 per month in Ifrane and $1,421 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 $106 per month in Ifrane and $778 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 17% 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 $2,000/month in Ifrane or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ifrane, where all-in costs run around $771, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ifrane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ifrane or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ifrane costs $771 versus $947 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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