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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $701 per month in Settat vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Settat vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,577 per month in Settat vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Settat is about 19% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Settat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Settat 48% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25 MAD 30.05
$1.94 ฿63.8
67.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.41 MAD 309
$18.64 ฿611
79.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 MAD 66.8
$7.82 ฿256
-7.54%
Cappuccino
$1.19 MAD 10.99
$1.95 ฿64.1
-38.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 MAD 4.10
$0.85 ฿27.88
-48.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 MAD 3.02
$0.35 ฿11.63
-5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 MAD 11.94
$2.13 ฿69.9
-39.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MAD 15.26
$3.73 ฿122
-55.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.28
$1.71 ฿56.2
-47.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 MAD 5.42
$1.63 ฿53.4
-63.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 MAD 16.43
$1.14 ฿37.30
56.14%
Eggs
$2.00 MAD 18.47
$1.93 ฿63.4
3.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.68 MAD 89.4
$16.21 ฿532
-40.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.13 MAD 56.7
$3.12 ฿102
96.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 MAD 102
$10.90 ฿357
1.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 MAD 14.06
$2.75 ฿90.3
-44.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MAD 12.83
$1.21 ฿39.68
14.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.90 MAD 8.30
$1.62 ฿53.2
-44.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.12
$1.59 ฿52.0
-44.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.35
$1.40 ฿45.89
-42.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.84
$1.17 ฿38.32
-36.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.92
$0.66 ฿21.69
-36.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.48
$0.53 ฿17.29
11.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36 MAD 40.25
$4.69 ฿154
-7.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 MAD 74.5
$18.66 ฿612
-56.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 MAD 25.02
$1.80 ฿59.0
50.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 MAD 27.19
$3.23 ฿106
-8.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 MAD 3.94
$0.90 ฿29.37
-52.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.21 MAD 150
$19.21 ฿630
-15.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.80 MAD 7.42
$1.41 ฿46.10
-43.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 MAD 4.73
$1.29 ฿42.29
-60.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MAD 50.4
$7.84 ฿257
-30.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MAD 14.16
$1.27 ฿41.75
20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K MAD 340.4K
$21.3K ฿697.7K
73.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K MAD 274.0K
$22.2K ฿728.3K
33.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$21.57 MAD 199
$69.1 ฿2,265
-68.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.42 MAD 50.1
$14.08 ฿462
-61.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.19 MAD 417
$18.00 ฿590
151.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.06 MAD 176
$41.06 ฿1,346
-53.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.03 MAD 213
$6.96 ฿228
230.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MAD 61.5
$5.92 ฿194
12.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 MAD 1,060
$299 ฿9,805
-61.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,295 MAD 58.2K
$15.0K ฿490.3K
-57.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.80 MAD 395
$54.7 ฿1,794
-21.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 MAD 465
$26.77 ฿878
88.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MAD 992
$85.0 ฿2,787
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 MAD 951
$70.6 ฿2,315
45.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 MAD 2,542
$428 ฿14.0K
-35.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,590
$237 ฿7,782
-27.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 MAD 4,738
$801 ฿26.3K
-35.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 MAD 2,784
$515 ฿16.9K
-41.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$220 MAD 2,036
$617 ฿20.2K
-64.30%
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 Settat: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Settat 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 180% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Settat vs $246 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 24% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,052 per month in Settat 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, 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $115 per month in Settat 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 Settat or 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 $800/month in Settat or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $701 in Settat and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Settat or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Settat costs $701 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 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 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.

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