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 $568 per month in Ouarzazate vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $907 per month in Ouarzazate vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,245 per month in Ouarzazate vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ouarzazate is about 33% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ouarzazate and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ouarzazate 57% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.78 MAD 44.60
$2.04 ฿68.2
134.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.98 MAD 102
$18.71 ฿624
-41.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.50 MAD 41.97
$7.86 ฿262
-42.75%
Cappuccino
$1.07 MAD 10.00
$2.03 ฿67.7
-47.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 MAD 3.92
$0.80 ฿26.64
-47.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MAD 3.32
$0.35 ฿11.68
2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 MAD 26.28
$2.14 ฿71.5
31.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 MAD 25.07
$3.67 ฿122
-26.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 MAD 7.20
$1.73 ฿57.6
-55.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 MAD 5.24
$1.57 ฿52.4
-64.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 MAD 13.55
$1.20 ฿39.99
20.83%
Eggs
$1.66 MAD 15.46
$1.97 ฿65.8
-15.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.83 MAD 73.0
$16.23 ฿541
-51.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 MAD 38.65
$3.06 ฿102
35.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.54 MAD 61.0
$10.80 ฿360
-39.44%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 MAD 9.08
$2.77 ฿92.3
-64.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MAD 12.95
$1.17 ฿38.94
18.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.63 MAD 5.85
$1.71 ฿57.0
-63.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.33
$1.59 ฿53.2
-57.23%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 MAD 5.98
$1.39 ฿46.51
-53.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 MAD 4.28
$1.16 ฿38.56
-60.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.23 MAD 2.15
$0.66 ฿22.05
-65.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 MAD 5.57
$0.52 ฿17.31
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 MAD 40.01
$4.65 ฿155
-7.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.20 MAD 76.5
$17.78 ฿593
-53.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 MAD 24.38
$1.79 ฿59.6
45.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 MAD 28.43
$3.34 ฿111
-8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 MAD 4.41
$0.91 ฿30.27
-48.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.20 MAD 151
$18.64 ฿622
-13.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 MAD 5.03
$1.41 ฿47.04
-61.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 MAD 4.76
$1.34 ฿44.70
-61.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 MAD 25.89
$8.11 ฿270
-65.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.17
$1.23 ฿41.16
23.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K MAD 353.2K
$21.4K ฿715.1K
76.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K MAD 275.3K
$21.8K ฿728.0K
35.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.17 MAD 300
$71.3 ฿2,379
-54.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41 MAD 50.5
$14.01 ฿467
-61.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.05 MAD 234
$17.93 ฿598
39.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.08 MAD 141
$40.82 ฿1,362
-63.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.53 MAD 219
$6.88 ฿230
242.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.82 MAD 35.60
$5.72 ฿191
-33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.8 MAD 707
$308 ฿10.3K
-75.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,303 MAD 58.8K
$14.7K ฿489.7K
-57.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.89 MAD 363
$55.8 ฿1,860
-30.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 MAD 471
$26.04 ฿869
94.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.2 MAD 468
$84.8 ฿2,829
-40.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.0 MAD 625
$71.0 ฿2,368
-5.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$251 MAD 2,343
$423 ฿14.1K
-40.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$130 MAD 1,208
$242 ฿8,088
-46.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$502 MAD 4,676
$797 ฿26.6K
-37.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 MAD 2,880
$507 ฿16.9K
-39.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,231 MAD 11.5K
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-35.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$896 MAD 8,359
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-38.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouarzazate
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$595 ฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.75
5
-5.00%

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

Last update for Ouarzazate: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $251 in Ouarzazate 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Ouarzazate versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $155 vs $244 – making Ouarzazate 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
Ouarzazate vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ouarzazate or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 50% 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 $852 per month in Ouarzazate 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, 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 $75.8 per month in Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 57% 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 $1,200/month in Ouarzazate or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $568 in Ouarzazate and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ouarzazate or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ouarzazate costs $568 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 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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