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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Taza 57% lower, Chiang Mai 33% lower.

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

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