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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $724 per month in Ouarzazate vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Ouarzazate vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,548 per month in Ouarzazate vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ouarzazate is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.60 MAD 34.12
$2.08 ฿69.5
73.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.85 MAD 302
$19.61 ฿655
62.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.25 MAD 59.3
$5.67 ฿189
10.23%
Cappuccino
$2.23 MAD 21.19
$1.81 ฿60.3
23.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 MAD 6.21
$0.77 ฿25.65
-15.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MAD 3.56
$0.35 ฿11.53
8.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.00 MAD 66.4
$2.21 ฿73.9
216.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 MAD 52.8
$3.79 ฿127
46.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 MAD 7.89
$2.05 ฿68.4
-59.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 MAD 7.76
$1.51 ฿50.6
-45.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 MAD 15.21
$1.40 ฿46.69
14.29%
Eggs
$1.53 MAD 14.49
$2.26 ฿75.4
-32.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 MAD 74.1
$16.19 ฿540
-51.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.68 MAD 44.37
$2.90 ฿96.7
61.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.86 MAD 113
$9.42 ฿314
25.90%
Apples (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.25
$2.68 ฿89.4
-71.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 MAD 11.70
$1.09 ฿36.37
12.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.65 MAD 6.19
$1.62 ฿54.0
-59.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.72
$1.46 ฿48.74
-44.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 MAD 6.59
$1.28 ฿42.65
-46.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 MAD 7.93
$1.06 ฿35.31
-20.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.23 MAD 2.17
$0.72 ฿23.94
-68.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.46
$0.53 ฿17.56
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 MAD 39.60
$4.23 ฿141
-1.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.82 MAD 74.2
$18.29 ฿611
-57.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 MAD 22.74
$1.63 ฿54.4
47.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 MAD 32.21
$2.90 ฿96.8
17.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 MAD 4.71
$0.88 ฿29.32
-43.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.70 MAD 158
$53.8 ฿1,795
-68.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 MAD 4.92
$1.17 ฿39.14
-55.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 6.10
$0.58 ฿19.30
10.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.36 MAD 69.8
$2.39 ฿79.6
207.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.42
$1.45 ฿48.41
4.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K MAD 335.8K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
68.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K MAD 288.4K
$26.4K ฿882.0K
15.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.93 MAD 350
$63.7 ฿2,125
-41.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.12 MAD 48.55
$12.89 ฿430
-60.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.66 MAD 253
$20.52 ฿685
29.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.09 MAD 247
$39.02 ฿1,302
-33.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.47 MAD 194
$3.92 ฿131
422.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MAD 61.4
$6.58 ฿220
-1.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$100 MAD 953
$784 ฿26.2K
-87.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,459 MAD 80.2K
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-42.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.84 MAD 311
$55.1 ฿1,840
-40.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.96 MAD 436
$24.74 ฿826
85.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 MAD 803
$94.1 ฿3,142
-10.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.5 MAD 811
$74.0 ฿2,469
15.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 MAD 2,569
$490 ฿16.4K
-44.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 MAD 1,623
$288 ฿9,620
-40.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$545 MAD 5,166
$891 ฿29.8K
-38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$311 MAD 2,952
$521 ฿17.4K
-40.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,222 MAD 11.6K
$1,974 ฿65.9K
-38.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$847 MAD 8,035
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-41.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$602 ฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
5.57
-37.16%

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

Last update for Ouarzazate: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Ouarzazate 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ouarzazate versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $175 in Ouarzazate vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Ouarzazate 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
Ouarzazate vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ouarzazate or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Ouarzazate, 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 Ouarzazate and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,085 per month in Ouarzazate 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, Ouarzazate or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ouarzazate, 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 Ouarzazate and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $100 per month in Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 37% 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 $2,000/month in Ouarzazate or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouarzazate, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ouarzazate 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, Ouarzazate or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ouarzazate costs $724 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 Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ouarzazate. 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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