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 $647 per month in Meknes vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $986 per month in Meknes vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,324 per month in Meknes vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Meknes is about 24% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Meknes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Meknes 51% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25 MAD 20.97
$2.04 ฿68.2
10.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.70 MAD 118
$18.71 ฿624
-32.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.35 MAD 49.91
$7.86 ฿262
-31.93%
Cappuccino
$1.31 MAD 12.18
$2.03 ฿67.7
-35.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 MAD 6.97
$0.80 ฿26.64
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MAD 4.45
$0.35 ฿11.68
37.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 MAD 31.44
$2.14 ฿71.5
57.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 MAD 38.05
$3.67 ฿122
11.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 MAD 7.53
$1.73 ฿57.6
-53.18%
White Bread (500g)
$0.32 MAD 2.96
$1.57 ฿52.4
-79.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 MAD 12.09
$1.20 ฿39.99
8.33%
Eggs
$1.91 MAD 17.85
$1.97 ฿65.8
-3.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.96 MAD 102
$16.23 ฿541
-32.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 MAD 42.02
$3.06 ฿102
47.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.45 MAD 88.1
$10.80 ฿360
-12.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.85
$2.77 ฿92.3
-50.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 MAD 11.66
$1.17 ฿38.94
6.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 MAD 8.42
$1.71 ฿57.0
-47.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.66 MAD 6.14
$1.59 ฿53.2
-58.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.69
$1.39 ฿46.51
-48.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.05
$1.16 ฿38.56
-34.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 MAD 4.30
$0.66 ฿22.05
-30.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.34
$0.52 ฿17.31
9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MAD 40.88
$4.65 ฿155
-5.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.26 MAD 105
$17.78 ฿593
-36.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 MAD 26.32
$1.79 ฿59.6
57.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MAD 24.82
$3.34 ฿111
-20.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MAD 4.25
$0.91 ฿30.27
-49.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.53 MAD 154
$18.64 ฿622
-11.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 MAD 3.66
$1.41 ฿47.04
-72.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MAD 4.86
$1.34 ฿44.70
-61.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 MAD 41.52
$8.11 ฿270
-45.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 MAD 13.87
$1.23 ฿41.16
21.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K MAD 342.8K
$21.4K ฿715.1K
71.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K MAD 270.7K
$21.8K ฿728.0K
33.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.82 MAD 353
$71.3 ฿2,379
-46.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.76 MAD 100
$14.01 ฿467
-23.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.00 MAD 317
$17.93 ฿598
89.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.36 MAD 227
$40.82 ฿1,362
-40.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 MAD 180
$6.88 ฿230
181.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.42 MAD 41.23
$5.72 ฿191
-22.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 MAD 1,434
$308 ฿10.3K
-50.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,668 MAD 15.6K
$14.7K ฿489.7K
-88.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.92 MAD 428
$55.8 ฿1,860
-17.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.74 MAD 380
$26.04 ฿869
56.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.6 MAD 528
$84.8 ฿2,829
-33.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.3 MAD 506
$71.0 ฿2,368
-23.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 MAD 2,515
$423 ฿14.1K
-36.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 MAD 1,578
$242 ฿8,088
-30.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$420 MAD 3,913
$797 ฿26.6K
-47.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 MAD 2,589
$507 ฿16.9K
-45.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$981 MAD 9,144
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-48.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$612 MAD 5,702
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-58.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$485 MAD 4,524
$595 ฿19.9K
-18.46%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Meknes versus $423 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 23% 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: $183 vs $244 – 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 32% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $971 per month in Meknes and $1,279 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 $154 per month in Meknes and $308 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 33% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $647 in Meknes and $852 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 $647 versus $852 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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