🙂A single person spends $561 per month in Taza vs $906 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $910 per month in Taza vs $1,385 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,258 per month in Taza vs $1,864 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Taza is about 38% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Taza and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Taza58% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.73MAD 37.28
$2.13฿71.8
75.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.00MAD 180
$19.40฿653
-7.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13MAD 61.2
$5.47฿184
12.07%
Cappuccino
$1.58MAD 15.75
$1.68฿56.7
-5.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MAD 5.50
$0.66฿22.22
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.66
$0.34฿11.58
8.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.33MAD 53.3
$2.42฿81.5
120.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17MAD 31.68
$3.73฿126
-15.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86MAD 8.57
$2.06฿69.3
-58.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51MAD 5.06
$1.46฿49.06
-65.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MAD 18.96
$1.35฿45.34
40.74%
Eggs
$1.90MAD 18.93
$2.27฿76.4
-16.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.27MAD 113
$16.31฿549
-30.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04MAD 60.3
$2.70฿90.8
123.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.03MAD 120
$9.20฿310
30.76%
Apples(1kg)
$0.69MAD 6.94
$2.39฿80.6
-71.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MAD 13.86
$1.04฿34.85
33.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74MAD 7.43
$1.60฿54.0
-53.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54MAD 5.38
$1.44฿48.64
-62.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41MAD 4.07
$1.30฿43.84
-68.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44MAD 4.34
$1.11฿37.50
-60.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37MAD 3.72
$0.70฿23.69
-47.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.83
$0.51฿17.09
13.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13MAD 41.24
$4.13฿139
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.65MAD 76.4
$17.78฿599
-56.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40MAD 24.01
$1.63฿55.0
47.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65MAD 26.42
$2.87฿96.6
-7.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MAD 3.76
$0.86฿28.92
-55.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.73MAD 137
$53.2฿1,790
-74.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70MAD 6.96
$1.22฿41.05
-42.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64MAD 6.40
$0.56฿18.92
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.55MAD 25.43
$2.31฿77.9
10.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MAD 13.83
$1.50฿50.5
-8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KMAD 334.9K
$20.9K฿702.3K
60.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KMAD 315.7K
$26.7K฿900.1K
18.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.11MAD 331
$61.3฿2,063
-45.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.55MAD 95.3
$12.50฿421
-23.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.95MAD 339
$20.36฿686
66.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.52MAD 155
$37.94฿1,277
-59.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.18MAD 212
$3.77฿127
461.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20MAD 41.95
$6.60฿222
-36.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$77.2MAD 771
$774฿26.1K
-90.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,638MAD 96.2K
$14.4K฿486.0K
-33.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.62MAD 206
$54.8฿1,845
-62.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.61MAD 246
$25.26฿851
-2.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7MAD 955
$90.6฿3,049
5.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.7MAD 656
$73.3฿2,467
-10.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$102MAD 1,016
$459฿15.4K
-77.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.7MAD 626
$294฿9,891
-78.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207MAD 2,069
$919฿30.9K
-77.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161MAD 1,606
$552฿18.6K
-70.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,182MAD 11.8K
$1,917฿64.6K
-38.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$840MAD 8,386
$1,445฿48.6K
-41.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503MAD 5,018
$592฿19.9K
-15.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
5.57
-18.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taza: October 4, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $102 in Taza versus $459 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 18% 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 $18.00 in Taza versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $236 – making Taza 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
Taza vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Taza or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 62% more than Taza, 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 Taza and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $841 per month in Taza and $1,359 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Taza or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Taza, 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 Taza and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $77.2 per month in Taza and $774 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 Taza or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 Taza or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taza, where all-in costs run around $561, than in Chiang Mai at $906. In Taza 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, Taza or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Taza costs $561 versus $906 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Taza 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 Taza or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Taza. 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.