🙂A single person spends $594 per month in Taza vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $955 per month in Taza vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,316 per month in Taza vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Taza is about 35% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Taza and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Taza57% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.67MAD 33.90
$2.11฿69.1
73.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.90MAD 175
$19.75฿648
-4.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.07MAD 56.0
$5.85฿192
3.76%
Cappuccino
$1.58MAD 14.55
$1.76฿57.8
-10.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68MAD 6.26
$0.74฿24.37
-8.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MAD 3.30
$0.33฿10.90
9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.36MAD 49.48
$2.47฿81.0
117.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18MAD 29.40
$3.88฿127
-18.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86MAD 7.94
$1.90฿62.4
-54.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53MAD 4.88
$1.67฿54.7
-68.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MAD 17.24
$1.35฿44.24
38.52%
Eggs
$1.91MAD 17.67
$2.14฿70.2
-10.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.77MAD 109
$15.89฿521
-25.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.25MAD 57.7
$2.83฿92.9
120.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.48MAD 115
$10.53฿345
18.52%
Apples(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.83
$2.38฿78.2
-68.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36MAD 12.57
$1.07฿35.01
27.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.60
$1.52฿49.79
-46.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52MAD 4.78
$1.50฿49.30
-65.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41MAD 3.77
$1.28฿41.96
-67.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41MAD 3.82
$1.10฿36.17
-62.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.64
$0.69฿22.54
-43.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MAD 5.29
$0.49฿16.18
16.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43MAD 40.91
$4.27฿140
3.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.89MAD 72.8
$16.78฿550
-52.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41MAD 22.26
$1.66฿54.4
45.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70MAD 24.91
$2.81฿92.3
-3.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MAD 3.63
$0.90฿29.44
-56.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.07MAD 130
$54.9฿1,801
-74.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MAD 7.26
$1.20฿39.24
-34.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74MAD 6.82
$0.54฿17.78
37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.63MAD 24.33
$2.37฿77.9
10.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MAD 13.26
$1.43฿46.88
0.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KMAD 324.0K
$21.1K฿691.5K
66.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0KMAD 295.8K
$27.1K฿890.2K
18.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.50MAD 309
$64.7฿2,124
-48.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.15MAD 93.8
$13.19฿433
-23.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.90MAD 332
$19.44฿638
84.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.37MAD 151
$39.45฿1,294
-58.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.04MAD 222
$3.77฿124
537.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38MAD 40.47
$6.62฿217
-33.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$79.6MAD 735
$805฿26.4K
-90.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,051MAD 65.1K
$15.1K฿496.1K
-53.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.47MAD 198
$54.8฿1,796
-60.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.15MAD 232
$25.43฿834
-1.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7MAD 875
$91.9฿3,015
3.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.3MAD 649
$74.7฿2,449
-5.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106MAD 977
$467฿15.3K
-77.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$65.3MAD 603
$282฿9,251
-76.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$216MAD 1,993
$891฿29.2K
-75.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,589
$521฿17.1K
-66.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,275MAD 11.8K
$1,985฿65.1K
-35.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$881MAD 8,132
$1,462฿48.0K
-39.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$519MAD 4,789
$592฿19.4K
-12.42%
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: August 16, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $106 in Taza versus $467 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 14% 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 $19.00 in Taza versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $237 – 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 55% 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 $892 per month in Taza and $1,380 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 $79.6 per month in Taza and $805 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 22% 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 $594, than in Chiang Mai at $920. 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 $594 versus $920 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.