🙂A single person spends $597 per month in Taza vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $968 per month in Taza vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,338 per month in Taza vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Taza is about 30% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Taza and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Taza55% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93MAD 36.35
$1.96฿63.6
100.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.17MAD 177
$18.81฿611
1.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.44MAD 59.5
$7.92฿258
-18.69%
Cappuccino
$1.68MAD 15.50
$1.91฿62.2
-12.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.79
$0.84฿27.25
-25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.45
$0.35฿11.44
5.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.58MAD 51.7
$2.21฿71.7
152.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99MAD 36.91
$3.80฿124
5.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.59
$1.64฿53.2
-50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51MAD 4.68
$1.62฿52.8
-68.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MAD 17.54
$1.18฿38.40
61.02%
Eggs
$1.92MAD 17.73
$2.01฿65.4
-4.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.94MAD 120
$15.89฿517
-18.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.15MAD 56.9
$3.01฿98.0
104.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MAD 109
$10.77฿350
9.84%
Apples(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.32
$2.61฿85.0
-69.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MAD 13.17
$1.22฿39.65
16.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.14
$1.70฿55.4
-54.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58MAD 5.33
$1.58฿51.2
-63.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.42MAD 3.87
$1.32฿42.89
-68.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42MAD 3.87
$1.17฿38.01
-64.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40MAD 3.67
$0.67฿21.85
-40.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.67
$0.56฿18.21
8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MAD 40.54
$4.53฿147
-3.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81MAD 72.3
$18.20฿592
-57.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42MAD 22.42
$1.83฿59.6
32.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MAD 23.00
$3.23฿105
-22.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MAD 3.42
$0.89฿28.83
-58.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.21MAD 131
$19.38฿630
-26.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.87
$1.35฿43.95
-60.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.72MAD 6.70
$1.35฿43.79
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72MAD 25.18
$8.25฿268
-67.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MAD 13.49
$1.27฿41.40
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMAD 342.0K
$21.2K฿687.8K
74.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMAD 271.2K
$22.5K฿731.0K
30.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.40MAD 318
$70.2฿2,281
-50.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.18MAD 103
$13.77฿448
-18.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.75MAD 368
$17.60฿572
125.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.77MAD 155
$41.57฿1,352
-59.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.41MAD 217
$6.60฿215
254.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27MAD 39.48
$5.78฿188
-26.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$81.8MAD 756
$306฿9,953
-73.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,536MAD 60.5K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-55.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.28MAD 206
$54.4฿1,768
-59.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.42MAD 235
$26.14฿850
-2.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106MAD 978
$84.5฿2,748
25.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9MAD 684
$69.4฿2,257
6.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$109MAD 1,004
$424฿13.8K
-74.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.6MAD 616
$238฿7,743
-72.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219MAD 2,023
$825฿26.8K
-73.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,616
$515฿16.7K
-66.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,572MAD 14.5K
$2,049฿66.6K
-23.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$937MAD 8,669
$1,523฿49.5K
-38.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taza
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$530MAD 4,906
$635฿20.6K
-16.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.81
5
-3.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taza: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $109 in Taza versus $424 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 20% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $243 – 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 43% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $895 per month in Taza and $1,278 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $81.8 per month in Taza and $306 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 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 $800/month in Taza or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $597 in Taza and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Taza or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Taza costs $597 versus $852 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 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.