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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $851 per month in Nouakchott vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,387 per month in Nouakchott vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,923 per month in Nouakchott vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nouakchott is about 1% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94 MRU 197
$1.96 ฿65.9
152.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.95 MRU 995
$18.35 ฿617
35.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.37 MRU 254
$7.48 ฿252
-14.84%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 MRU 79.8
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 MRU 98.4
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.40 MRU 95.8
$2.02 ฿67.8
18.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 MRU 72.8
$0.85 ฿28.52
115.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 MRU 85.3
$0.36 ฿11.97
494.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.14 ฿71.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.59 ฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MRU 55.0
$1.65 ฿55.5
-16.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.27 MRU 10.72
$1.57 ฿52.7
-82.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 MRU 50.0
$1.19 ฿40.05
5.04%
Eggs
$2.20 MRU 87.7
$1.94 ฿65.1
13.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.10 MRU 323
$16.19 ฿545
-49.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.62 MRU 224
$2.99 ฿101
87.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.34 MRU 293
$10.94 ฿368
-32.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 MRU 90.7
$2.71 ฿91.2
-16.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 MRU 72.8
$1.17 ฿39.27
56.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 MRU 58.1
$1.69 ฿56.8
-13.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.97 MRU 38.57
$1.60 ฿54.0
-39.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 MRU 32.10
$1.38 ฿46.56
-42.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 MRU 33.72
$1.20 ฿40.47
-29.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 MRU 22.51
$0.67 ฿22.51
-16.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 MRU 27.51
$0.56 ฿18.74
23.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$10.20 MRU 407
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 MRU 105
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 MRU 68.1
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55 MRU 102
$4.64 ฿156
-45.04%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.62 ฿593
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 ฿62.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30 ฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MRU 21.14
$0.88 ฿29.70
-39.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.96 MRU 716
$19.34 ฿651
-7.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 MRU 33.53
$1.36 ฿45.92
-38.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 MRU 10.45
$1.34 ฿45.00
-80.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.76 MRU 230
$8.21 ฿276
-29.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MRU 55.5
$1.22 ฿41.20
13.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,604 MRU 303.2K
$21.4K ฿718.5K
-64.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,039 MRU 360.5K
$22.5K ฿758.1K
-59.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 MRU 5,752
$70.7 ฿2,378
104.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.38 MRU 1,012
$14.04 ฿472
80.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8 MRU 2,425
$17.49 ฿589
247.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.0 MRU 3,431
$42.15 ฿1,418
104.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$256 MRU 10.2K
$6.88 ฿231
3615.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.48 MRU 179
$5.92 ฿199
-24.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$81.4 MRU 3,247
$309 ฿10.4K
-73.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 MRU 236.3K
$14.9K ฿500.7K
-60.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.58 MRU 821
$55.8 ฿1,876
-63.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.50 MRU 818
$26.11 ฿879
-21.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 MRU 2,801
$83.0 ฿2,793
-15.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.30 MRU 1,408
$70.5 ฿2,371
-49.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$229 MRU 9,127
$432 ฿14.5K
-47.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 MRU 6,549
$239 ฿8,040
-31.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$636 MRU 25.4K
$822 ฿27.7K
-22.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$317 MRU 12.7K
$512 ฿17.2K
-38.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,610 MRU 263.6K
$1,915 ฿64.4K
245.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,019 MRU 120.4K
$1,467 ฿49.4K
105.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$578 MRU 23.1K
$579 ฿19.5K
-0.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.5
5
230.00%

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

Last update for Nouakchott: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Nouakchott versus $432 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 0% 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 $25.00 in Nouakchott versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Nouakchott vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Nouakchott 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
Nouakchott vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nouakchott or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Nouakchott, 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 Nouakchott and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,277 per month in Nouakchott and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Nouakchott or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nouakchott, 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 Nouakchott and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $81.4 per month in Nouakchott and $309 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 Nouakchott or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 60% 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 Nouakchott or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $851 in Nouakchott and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nouakchott or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nouakchott costs $851 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Nouakchott 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 Nouakchott or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Nouakchott. 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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