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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $773 per month in Temara vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,192 per month in Temara vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,611 per month in Temara vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

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

Both Temara and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Temara 44% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.22 MAD 39.64
$2.10 ฿69.3
100.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.47 MAD 296
$19.84 ฿656
58.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.54 MAD 61.5
$5.79 ฿191
12.95%
Cappuccino
$1.90 MAD 17.85
$1.83 ฿60.4
3.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 6.00
$0.78 ฿25.61
-17.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MAD 3.49
$0.31 ฿10.37
19.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 MAD 48.80
$2.34 ฿77.2
121.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 MAD 30.42
$3.70 ฿122
-12.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 MAD 8.75
$2.03 ฿67.1
-54.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 MAD 7.97
$1.60 ฿52.7
-46.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 MAD 15.24
$1.42 ฿46.75
14.08%
Eggs
$2.06 MAD 19.37
$2.18 ฿71.9
-5.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.68 MAD 91.0
$15.91 ฿526
-39.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.52 MAD 51.9
$3.07 ฿102
79.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.89 MAD 112
$9.87 ฿326
20.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 MAD 15.21
$2.63 ฿86.8
-38.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 MAD 13.23
$1.10 ฿36.19
28.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 MAD 8.54
$1.63 ฿53.8
-44.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 MAD 8.61
$1.53 ฿50.6
-39.87%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.97
$1.24 ฿41.13
-40.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 MAD 7.97
$1.13 ฿37.37
-24.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.28 MAD 2.65
$0.74 ฿24.38
-62.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 MAD 5.61
$0.50 ฿16.48
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 MAD 39.20
$4.28 ฿141
-2.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.70 MAD 72.4
$17.97 ฿594
-57.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 MAD 21.65
$1.70 ฿56.1
35.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MAD 25.04
$2.90 ฿95.7
-8.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MAD 5.16
$0.94 ฿31.13
-41.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.43 MAD 239
$55.3 ฿1,827
-54.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 MAD 7.60
$1.23 ฿40.76
-34.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 MAD 8.90
$0.53 ฿17.66
79.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.31 MAD 40.49
$2.40 ฿79.3
79.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 MAD 14.85
$1.44 ฿47.55
9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K MAD 328.2K
$21.2K ฿700.2K
64.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K MAD 295.9K
$27.3K ฿902.1K
15.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.22 MAD 340
$64.9 ฿2,145
-44.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.37 MAD 97.4
$13.35 ฿441
-22.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.81 MAD 355
$20.83 ฿688
81.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.32 MAD 229
$40.42 ฿1,336
-39.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.47 MAD 51.4
$3.95 ฿131
38.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MAD 59.2
$6.71 ฿222
-6.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 MAD 1,118
$787 ฿26.0K
-84.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,071 MAD 66.4K
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-53.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.67 MAD 307
$56.2 ฿1,858
-41.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.97 MAD 432
$24.95 ฿824
84.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 MAD 817
$92.7 ฿3,063
-6.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4 MAD 784
$75.1 ฿2,482
11.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 MAD 2,467
$484 ฿16.0K
-45.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$205 MAD 1,931
$287 ฿9,491
-28.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$420 MAD 3,949
$910 ฿30.1K
-53.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$320 MAD 3,012
$531 ฿17.5K
-39.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,267 MAD 11.9K
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-36.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$975 MAD 9,165
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-32.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Temara
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$245 MAD 2,298
$605 ฿20.0K
-59.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
5.57
-37.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Temara: September 7, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Temara versus $484 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 148% 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 $31.00 in Temara versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Temara vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Temara 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
Temara vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Temara or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Temara, 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 Temara and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,160 per month in Temara and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Temara or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Temara, 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 Temara and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $119 per month in Temara and $787 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 Temara or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 Temara or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Temara, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Temara 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, Temara or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Temara costs $773 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Temara 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 Temara or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Temara. 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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