🙂A single person spends $666 per month in Settat vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,026 per month in Settat vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,386 per month in Settat vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Settat is about 30% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Settat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Settat52% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.20MAD 29.90
$2.08฿68.5
53.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.56MAD 305
$19.64฿646
65.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.56MAD 61.4
$5.65฿186
16.11%
Cappuccino
$1.15MAD 10.75
$1.81฿59.3
-36.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.40
$0.71฿23.44
-33.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MAD 3.52
$0.32฿10.38
18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27MAD 11.88
$2.24฿73.5
-43.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65MAD 15.44
$3.63฿119
-54.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89MAD 8.36
$1.96฿64.4
-54.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86MAD 8.06
$1.50฿49.38
-42.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62MAD 15.18
$1.34฿43.92
20.90%
Eggs
$2.00MAD 18.68
$2.26฿74.4
-11.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.03MAD 75.1
$16.26฿534
-50.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.48MAD 51.3
$2.95฿97.1
85.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.02MAD 112
$9.94฿327
20.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68MAD 15.76
$2.57฿84.5
-34.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MAD 13.92
$1.06฿34.72
40.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99MAD 9.26
$1.61฿53.0
-38.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.24
$1.52฿49.96
-49.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 7.00
$1.27฿41.76
-40.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.53
$1.07฿35.05
-24.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26MAD 2.44
$0.72฿23.67
-63.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MAD 4.88
$0.51฿16.72
1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32MAD 40.43
$4.19฿138
3.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21MAD 76.8
$17.87฿587
-54.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31MAD 21.63
$1.69฿55.7
36.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45MAD 32.30
$2.84฿93.2
21.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42MAD 3.91
$0.93฿30.42
-54.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.60MAD 99.2
$53.9฿1,770
-80.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MAD 7.35
$1.23฿40.58
-35.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68MAD 6.34
$0.58฿18.96
17.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37MAD 69.0
$2.42฿79.7
204.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57MAD 14.73
$1.41฿46.42
11.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KMAD 328.9K
$21.4K฿704.9K
63.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KMAD 285.4K
$27.3K฿898.5K
11.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.41MAD 200
$63.7฿2,093
-66.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.45MAD 51.0
$12.85฿423
-57.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.95MAD 355
$20.22฿665
87.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.52MAD 183
$38.74฿1,274
-49.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.78MAD 101
$3.97฿130
171.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66MAD 62.3
$6.74฿221
-1.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106MAD 991
$778฿25.6K
-86.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,646MAD 80.9K
$14.6K฿480.2K
-40.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.76MAD 306
$54.3฿1,785
-39.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.54MAD 445
$25.45฿836
86.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.4MAD 790
$94.3฿3,101
-10.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5MAD 818
$73.4฿2,414
19.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219MAD 2,046
$490฿16.1K
-55.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$162MAD 1,514
$289฿9,510
-44.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$870MAD 8,138
$894฿29.4K
-2.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MAD 2,197
$517฿17.0K
-54.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿48.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$220MAD 2,054
$602฿19.8K
-63.54%
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 Settat: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $219 in Settat 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 174% 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 $33.00 in Settat versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Settat vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Settat 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
Settat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Settat or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Settat, 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 Settat and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $999 per month in Settat 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, Settat or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Settat, 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 Settat and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Settat 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 Settat or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 26% 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 Settat or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Settat, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Settat 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, Settat or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Settat costs $666 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 Settat 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 Settat or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Settat. 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.