🙂A single person spends $843 per month in Nouakchott vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,387 per month in Nouakchott vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,931 per month in Nouakchott vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Nouakchott is about 3% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Nouakchott and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Nouakchott37% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96MRU 198
$1.94฿63.5
155.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.64MRU 984
$18.64฿609
32.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.35MRU 254
$7.82฿255
-18.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.95MRU 77.8
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47MRU 98.8
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.38MRU 95.0
$1.95฿63.8
22.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76MRU 70.4
$0.85฿27.77
107.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23MRU 89.3
$0.35฿11.58
537.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.13฿69.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MRU 55.2
$1.71฿56.0
-19.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.29MRU 11.64
$1.63฿53.2
-82.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25MRU 50.1
$1.14฿37.15
9.65%
Eggs
$2.18MRU 87.3
$1.93฿63.1
12.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.90MRU 316
$16.21฿530
-51.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.70MRU 228
$3.12฿102
82.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.97MRU 278
$10.90฿356
-36.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18MRU 87.1
$2.75฿90.0
-20.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MRU 72.0
$1.21฿39.52
48.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48MRU 59.0
$1.62฿53.0
-8.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.96MRU 38.27
$1.59฿51.8
-39.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80MRU 32.06
$1.40฿45.70
-42.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90MRU 36.14
$1.17฿38.17
-23.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52MRU 20.72
$0.66฿21.60
-21.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70MRU 27.89
$0.53฿17.22
32.08%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$10.17MRU 406
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51MRU 100
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MRU 68.5
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59MRU 104
$4.69฿153
-44.78%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.66฿609
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿58.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53MRU 21.18
$0.90฿29.26
-41.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.45MRU 697
$19.21฿628
-9.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90MRU 35.89
$1.41฿45.91
-36.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26MRU 10.48
$1.29฿42.12
-79.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66MRU 226
$7.84฿256
-27.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MRU 57.3
$1.27฿41.58
12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,521MRU 300.5K
$21.3K฿694.9K
-64.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,149MRU 365.5K
$22.2K฿725.4K
-58.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146MRU 5,841
$69.1฿2,256
111.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.45MRU 1,017
$14.08฿460
80.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4MRU 2,452
$18.00฿588
240.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.0MRU 3,556
$41.06฿1,341
116.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$248MRU 9,915
$6.96฿227
3465.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37MRU 174
$5.92฿193
-26.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$79.8MRU 3,189
$299฿9,766
-73.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,985MRU 239.1K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-59.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.71MRU 827
$54.7฿1,787
-62.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.75MRU 829
$26.77฿874
-22.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.2MRU 2,766
$85.0฿2,776
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.36MRU 1,413
$70.6฿2,306
-49.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$224MRU 8,968
$428฿14.0K
-47.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$162MRU 6,488
$237฿7,752
-31.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$622MRU 24.9K
$801฿26.2K
-22.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$320MRU 12.8K
$515฿16.8K
-37.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,530MRU 260.9K
$1,975฿64.5K
230.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,008MRU 120.2K
$1,475฿48.2K
103.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nouakchott
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$562MRU 22.4K
$617฿20.2K
-9.05%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $224 in Nouakchott versus $428 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 10% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $151 in Nouakchott vs $246 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 3% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,265 per month in Nouakchott and $1,300 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $79.8 per month in Nouakchott and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 64% 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 Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $843 in Nouakchott and $866 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 $843 versus $866 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 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.
Nouakchott vs other spots: cost of living compared