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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $666 per month in Meknes vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $980 per month in Meknes vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,293 per month in Meknes vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Meknes is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Meknes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Meknes 50% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16 MAD 19.95
$1.98 ฿64.3
9.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.73 MAD 118
$18.80 ฿612
-32.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 MAD 49.94
$7.75 ฿252
-30.32%
Cappuccino
$1.33 MAD 12.28
$1.92 ฿62.5
-30.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MAD 6.42
$0.79 ฿25.79
-12.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 MAD 4.07
$0.36 ฿11.62
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 MAD 30.17
$2.21 ฿72.1
47.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 MAD 38.25
$3.66 ฿119
12.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 MAD 7.95
$1.65 ฿53.8
-47.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.32 MAD 2.93
$1.63 ฿53.2
-80.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 MAD 11.54
$1.19 ฿38.86
5.04%
Eggs
$1.99 MAD 18.45
$2.00 ฿65.1
-0.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.90 MAD 101
$15.98 ฿520
-31.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.49 MAD 41.52
$3.03 ฿98.5
48.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 MAD 85.1
$10.86 ฿354
-15.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.33 MAD 12.35
$2.76 ฿90.0
-51.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 MAD 11.47
$1.18 ฿38.42
5.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 MAD 8.55
$1.64 ฿53.5
-43.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.67
$1.52 ฿49.51
-52.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.70
$1.38 ฿45.10
-47.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.86
$1.19 ฿38.84
-37.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.91
$0.70 ฿22.86
-40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.45
$0.56 ฿18.13
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MAD 40.55
$4.58 ฿149
-4.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.51 MAD 106
$16.56 ฿539
-30.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 MAD 26.38
$1.83 ฿59.5
55.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MAD 25.65
$3.20 ฿104
-13.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 MAD 3.92
$0.88 ฿28.56
-52.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.56 MAD 153
$18.72 ฿610
-11.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 MAD 3.61
$1.36 ฿44.16
-71.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MAD 4.40
$1.34 ฿43.65
-64.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.27 MAD 39.53
$7.84 ฿256
-45.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MAD 13.74
$1.23 ฿39.92
20.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K MAD 348.6K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
74.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MAD 262.2K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
25.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.11 MAD 343
$70.5 ฿2,298
-47.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.79 MAD 99.8
$13.68 ฿445
-21.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.11 MAD 306
$17.45 ฿568
89.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.20 MAD 224
$41.33 ฿1,346
-41.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26 MAD 178
$6.96 ฿227
176.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40 MAD 40.70
$5.77 ฿188
-23.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 MAD 1,399
$307 ฿10.0K
-50.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,629 MAD 15.1K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-88.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.80 MAD 414
$55.8 ฿1,817
-19.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23 MAD 372
$26.21 ฿854
53.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.6 MAD 532
$85.8 ฿2,793
-32.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 MAD 508
$72.2 ฿2,353
-23.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 MAD 2,507
$430 ฿14.0K
-36.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 MAD 1,620
$239 ฿7,774
-26.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$423 MAD 3,916
$817 ฿26.6K
-48.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 MAD 2,645
$511 ฿16.6K
-44.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$934 MAD 8,638
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-52.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$633 MAD 5,858
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-57.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$506 MAD 4,679
$619 ฿20.2K
-18.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
5
-10.00%

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

Last update for Meknes: June 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Meknes versus $430 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 22% 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 $13.00 in Meknes versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $241 – making Meknes 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
Meknes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Meknes or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Meknes, 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 Meknes vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $999 per month in Meknes and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Meknes or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Meknes, 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 Meknes and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $151 per month in Meknes and $307 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 Meknes or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% 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 $800/month in Meknes or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $666 in Meknes and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Meknes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meknes costs $666 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Meknes 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 Meknes or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Meknes. 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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