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 $731 per month in Meknes vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,128 per month in Meknes vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,525 per month in Meknes vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Meknes is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Meknes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Meknes 47% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25 MAD 30.81
$2.08 ฿69.5
56.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.66 MAD 149
$19.61 ฿655
-20.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 MAD 60.6
$5.67 ฿189
12.52%
Cappuccino
$1.25 MAD 11.89
$1.81 ฿60.3
-30.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MAD 8.62
$0.77 ฿25.65
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 MAD 4.00
$0.35 ฿11.53
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 MAD 29.36
$2.21 ฿73.9
40.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MAD 34.89
$3.79 ฿127
-2.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 MAD 7.97
$2.05 ฿68.4
-59.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.40 MAD 3.77
$1.51 ฿50.6
-73.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 MAD 11.90
$1.40 ฿46.69
-10.00%
Eggs
$1.86 MAD 17.68
$2.26 ฿75.4
-17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.28 MAD 145
$16.19 ฿540
-5.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.29 MAD 50.2
$2.90 ฿96.7
82.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.69 MAD 91.9
$9.42 ฿314
2.87%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 MAD 12.40
$2.68 ฿89.4
-51.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 MAD 11.68
$1.09 ฿36.37
12.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 MAD 6.33
$1.62 ฿54.0
-58.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 MAD 5.66
$1.46 ฿48.74
-58.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 MAD 5.32
$1.28 ฿42.65
-56.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.59
$1.06 ฿35.31
-24.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 MAD 4.50
$0.72 ฿23.94
-34.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.53
$0.53 ฿17.56
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 MAD 39.30
$4.23 ฿141
-2.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.87 MAD 103
$18.29 ฿611
-40.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33 MAD 31.59
$1.63 ฿54.4
104.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MAD 25.21
$2.90 ฿96.8
-8.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 MAD 4.13
$0.88 ฿29.32
-51.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.13 MAD 153
$53.8 ฿1,795
-70.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 6.91
$1.17 ฿39.14
-37.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MAD 5.15
$0.58 ฿19.30
-6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.39 ฿79.6
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 MAD 13.55
$1.45 ฿48.41
-1.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K MAD 330.4K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
65.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K MAD 296.0K
$26.4K ฿882.0K
18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.36 MAD 297
$63.7 ฿2,125
-50.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.65 MAD 91.5
$12.89 ฿430
-25.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.69 MAD 329
$20.52 ฿685
69.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.45 MAD 279
$39.02 ฿1,302
-24.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.01 MAD 323
$3.92 ฿131
767.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 MAD 39.35
$6.58 ฿220
-36.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 MAD 1,201
$784 ฿26.2K
-83.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 MAD 637
$55.1 ฿1,840
21.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.3 MAD 609
$24.74 ฿826
159.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MAD 982
$94.1 ฿3,142
10.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3 MAD 638
$74.0 ฿2,469
-9.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 MAD 2,616
$490 ฿16.4K
-43.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 MAD 1,676
$288 ฿9,620
-38.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$473 MAD 4,490
$891 ฿29.8K
-46.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$295 MAD 2,794
$521 ฿17.4K
-43.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$982 MAD 9,308
$1,974 ฿65.9K
-50.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 MAD 5,988
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-56.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$479 MAD 4,543
$602 ฿20.1K
-20.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
5.57
-19.21%

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

Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Meknes 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 26% 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 $16.00 in Meknes versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 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 27% more than Meknes, 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 Meknes and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,097 per month in Meknes and $1,398 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $127 per month in Meknes and $784 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% 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 $1,000/month in Meknes or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Meknes, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Meknes 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, Meknes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Meknes costs $731 versus $932 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 to 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.

Meknes vs other spots: cost of living compared

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