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 $714 per month in Nouakchott vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Nouakchott vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,720 per month in Nouakchott vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Nouakchott is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nouakchott and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nouakchott 48% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.45 MRU 98.2
$2.08 ฿69.2
17.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.24 MRU 970
$19.64 ฿651
23.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.00 MRU 240
$5.65 ฿188
6.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 MRU 68.8
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 MRU 71.7
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.30 MRU 92.2
$1.81 ฿59.9
27.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 MRU 69.2
$0.71 ฿23.66
143.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 MRU 85.6
$0.32 ฿10.48
568.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.24 ฿74.2
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63 ฿121
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MRU 62.3
$1.96 ฿65.0
-20.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 MRU 10.40
$1.50 ฿49.83
-82.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 MRU 53.2
$1.34 ฿44.32
-0.75%
Eggs
$2.28 MRU 91.3
$2.26 ฿75.1
0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.85 MRU 234
$16.26 ฿539
-64.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.48 MRU 220
$2.95 ฿98.0
85.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.19 MRU 288
$9.94 ฿330
-27.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MRU 118
$2.57 ฿85.3
14.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 MRU 70.9
$1.06 ฿35.04
66.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 MRU 57.3
$1.61 ฿53.5
-11.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MRU 35.16
$1.52 ฿50.4
-42.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 MRU 33.43
$1.27 ฿42.14
-34.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 MRU 34.80
$1.07 ฿35.37
-18.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 MRU 30.08
$0.72 ฿23.89
4.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MRU 23.22
$0.51 ฿16.87
13.73%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$9.89 MRU 396
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 MRU 101
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 MRU 68.0
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 MRU 97.8
$4.19 ฿139
-41.77%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.87 ฿593
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69 ฿56.2
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84 ฿94.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MRU 18.43
$0.93 ฿30.70
-50.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.26 MRU 891
$53.9 ฿1,787
-58.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 MRU 33.76
$1.23 ฿40.95
-31.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 MRU 15.67
$0.58 ฿19.13
-32.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 MRU 143
$2.42 ฿80.4
47.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MRU 59.3
$1.41 ฿46.84
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,545 MRU 302.1K
$21.4K ฿711.3K
-64.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,157 MRU 366.6K
$27.3K ฿906.7K
-66.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 MRU 5,214
$63.7 ฿2,112
104.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.79 MRU 873
$12.85 ฿426
69.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 MRU 2,389
$20.22 ฿671
195.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.18 MRU 1,208
$38.74 ฿1,285
-22.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$253 MRU 10.1K
$3.97 ฿132
6267.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 MRU 160
$6.74 ฿223
-40.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$446 MRU 17.9K
$778 ฿25.8K
-42.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,441 MRU 297.9K
$14.6K ฿484.6K
-49.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.17 MRU 888
$54.3 ฿1,801
-59.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.53 MRU 902
$25.45 ฿844
-11.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 MRU 2,711
$94.3 ฿3,129
-28.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.64 MRU 1,667
$73.4 ฿2,436
-43.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$217 MRU 8,675
$490 ฿16.2K
-55.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 MRU 6,103
$289 ฿9,596
-47.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 MRU 29.5K
$894 ฿29.6K
-17.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 MRU 11.5K
$517 ฿17.1K
-44.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,578 MRU 263.4K
$1,955 ฿64.9K
236.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,977 MRU 119.2K
$1,477 ฿49.0K
101.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$560 MRU 22.4K
$602 ฿20.0K
-6.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
5.57
259.07%

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

Last update for Nouakchott: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $217 in Nouakchott 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 7% 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 $24.00 in Nouakchott versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Nouakchott vs $240 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 33% 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 $1,071 per month in Nouakchott and $1,421 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 $446 per month in Nouakchott and $778 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 62% 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 Nouakchott or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nouakchott, where all-in costs run around $714, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Nouakchott 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, Nouakchott or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nouakchott costs $714 versus $947 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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