Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

For one person, living is cheaper in Maroua: $348 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Maroua

🇨🇲 Cameroon

$348

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maroua and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maroua and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $348 per month in Maroua vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Maroua $348
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $519 per month in Maroua vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Maroua $519
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $690 per month in Maroua vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Maroua $690
Chiang Mai $1,979

Maroua is about 63% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Maroua and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Maroua 74% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

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

$0.64 ฿21.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.30

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 FCFA 972

$1.95 ฿65.7

-14.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 FCFA 489

$1.44 ฿48.45

-41.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 FCFA 1,662

$1.33 ฿45.01

113.53%

Eggs

$5.62 FCFA 3,290

$2.28 ฿77.0

146.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.13 FCFA 2,998

$16.45 ฿555

-68.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 FCFA 3,064

$2.78 ฿93.8

88.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.31 FCFA 1,936

$9.31 ฿314

-64.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 1,003

$2.35 ฿79.4

-26.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 FCFA 508

$0.97 ฿32.78

-10.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 FCFA 511

$1.60 ฿53.9

-45.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 FCFA 1,016

$1.50 ฿50.6

16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 FCFA 1,519

$1.28 ฿43.10

103.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 FCFA 1,000

$1.10 ฿37.17

55.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.81

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 FCFA 480

$0.49 ฿16.36

67.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$11.12 FCFA 6,504

$17.52 ฿591

-36.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 FCFA 511

$1.61 ฿54.5

-45.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,022

$2.78 ฿93.9

-37.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,825

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.87

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

$21.1K ฿710.3K

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

$26.9K ฿908.7K

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

$51.6 FCFA 30.2K

$62.2 ฿2,097

-17.08%

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

$8.43 FCFA 4,932

$12.17 ฿410

-30.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.99 FCFA 9,937

$37.31 ฿1,259

-54.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.69 FCFA 988

$3.77 ฿127

-55.17%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,800

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,086

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,426

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.7 FCFA 48.9K

$309 ฿10.4K

-72.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 FCFA 89.9K

$633 ฿21.4K

-75.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Maroua: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Maroua

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Good to know

🇨🇲 Maroua

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

18:33 6:33 PM

00:33 12:33 AM

6 h ahead of Maroua

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,119,000

127,240

💱 Currency

Central African CFA Franc XAF Fr

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD

1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 Central African CFA Franc (Fr)

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 653 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to XAF in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Maroua Chiang Mai 9,070 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Maroua
Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Maroua, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $522 per month in Maroua and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $348 in Maroua and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Maroua about 63% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $348 in Maroua to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.