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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $636 per month in Laayoune vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,031 per month in Laayoune vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,426 per month in Laayoune vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Laayoune is about 27% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Laayoune and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Laayoune 53% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.76 MAD 34.57

$1.94 ฿63.5

93.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.45 MAD 271

$18.64 ฿609

57.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 MAD 42.36

$7.82 ฿255

-41.05%

Cappuccino

$1.63 MAD 14.96

$1.95 ฿63.8

-16.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MAD 4.69

$0.85 ฿27.77

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MAD 3.15

$0.35 ฿11.58

-2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 MAD 32.08

$2.13 ฿69.6

63.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 MAD 43.20

$3.73 ฿122

26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 MAD 7.78

$1.71 ฿56.0

-50.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MAD 5.46

$1.63 ฿53.2

-63.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 MAD 16.66

$1.14 ฿37.15

58.77%

Eggs

$1.38 MAD 12.64

$1.93 ฿63.1

-28.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 MAD 107

$16.21 ฿530

-28.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 MAD 31.24

$3.12 ฿102

8.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 MAD 85.8

$10.90 ฿356

-14.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 MAD 14.01

$2.75 ฿90.0

-44.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MAD 10.45

$1.21 ฿39.52

-5.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.09

$1.62 ฿53.0

-59.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 MAD 5.23

$1.59 ฿51.8

-64.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 MAD 4.08

$1.40 ฿45.70

-68.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 MAD 3.35

$1.17 ฿38.17

-69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MAD 8.78

$0.66 ฿21.60

43.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MAD 5.13

$0.53 ฿17.22

5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MAD 31.68

$3.23 ฿106

6.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 MAD 5.59

$0.90 ฿29.26

-32.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.46 MAD 105

$19.21 ฿628

-40.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 MAD 6.63

$1.41 ฿45.91

-48.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 MAD 6.32

$1.29 ฿42.12

-46.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 MAD 11.42

$1.27 ฿41.58

-2.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.8K MAD 366.2K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

87.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K MAD 242.4K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

18.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$32.74 MAD 301

$69.1 ฿2,256

-52.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.73 MAD 209

$18.00 ฿588

26.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.36 MAD 215

$41.06 ฿1,341

-43.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.91 MAD 321

$6.96 ฿227

401.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 MAD 31.35

$5.92 ฿193

-42.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$286 MAD 2,627

$299 ฿9,766

-4.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,469 MAD 31.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-76.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.51 MAD 317

$54.7 ฿1,787

-36.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 MAD 531

$26.77 ฿874

115.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MAD 681

$85.0 ฿2,776

-12.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 MAD 743

$70.6 ฿2,306

14.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 MAD 3,251

$428 ฿14.0K

-17.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 MAD 1,603

$237 ฿7,752

-26.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$691 MAD 6,348

$801 ฿26.2K

-13.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 MAD 2,687

$515 ฿16.8K

-43.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Laayoune: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Laayoune 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Laayoune versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $146 in Laayoune vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Laayoune 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

Laayoune vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 36% more than Laayoune, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $954 per month in Laayoune and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laayoune, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $286 per month in Laayoune and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $636 in Laayoune and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laayoune costs $636 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Laayoune. 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.