🙂A single person spends $603 per month in Abalessa vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $976 per month in Abalessa vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,349 per month in Abalessa vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Abalessa is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Abalessa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Abalessa55% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.15DZD 418
$1.98฿64.3
59.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.02DZD 3,184
$18.80฿612
27.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.93DZD 521
$7.75฿252
-49.29%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 95.6
$1.92฿62.5
-62.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 81.1
$0.79฿25.79
-22.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.83
$0.36฿11.62
-41.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 263
$2.21฿72.1
-9.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40DZD 318
$3.66฿119
-34.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00DZD 132
$1.65฿53.8
-39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 19.83
$1.63฿53.2
-90.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57DZD 208
$1.19฿38.86
31.93%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 248
$2.00฿65.1
-6.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20DZD 1,220
$15.98฿520
-42.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.32DZD 706
$3.03฿98.5
75.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.59DZD 2,199
$10.86฿354
52.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23DZD 428
$2.76฿90.0
17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82DZD 373
$1.18฿38.42
138.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 227
$1.64฿53.5
4.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80DZD 106
$1.52฿49.51
-47.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55DZD 72.7
$1.38฿45.10
-60.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.5
$1.19฿38.84
-58.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62DZD 81.8
$0.70฿22.86
-11.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.09
$0.56฿18.13
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77DZD 367
$4.58฿149
-39.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13DZD 945
$16.56฿539
-56.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$1.83฿59.5
-26.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17DZD 288
$3.20฿104
-32.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.29
$0.88฿28.56
-73.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.66DZD 2,340
$18.72฿610
-5.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 93.9
$1.36฿44.16
-47.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.90
$1.34฿43.65
-74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.19DZD 687
$7.84฿256
-33.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 45.04
$1.23฿39.92
-72.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KDZD 4.3M
$21.6K฿704.3K
48.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
48.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.75DZD 5,401
$70.5฿2,298
-42.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56DZD 1,267
$13.68฿445
-30.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.12DZD 2,269
$17.45฿568
-1.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.47DZD 3,111
$41.33฿1,346
-43.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.44DZD 721
$5.77฿188
-5.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.9DZD 12.6K
$307฿10.0K
-69.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,616DZD 479.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.47DZD 4,966
$55.8฿1,817
-32.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.80DZD 5,937
$26.21฿854
70.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2DZD 9,962
$85.8฿2,793
-12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2DZD 10.4K
$72.2฿2,353
8.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194DZD 25.7K
$430฿14.0K
-54.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.3K
$239฿7,774
-51.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.7K
$817฿26.6K
-66.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183DZD 24.3K
$511฿16.6K
-64.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,113DZD 147.5K
$1,983฿64.6K
-43.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,094DZD 145.0K
$1,484฿48.3K
-26.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
5
8.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abalessa: June 9, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Abalessa versus $430 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Abalessa versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Abalessa vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Abalessa 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
Abalessa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 44% more than Abalessa, 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 Abalessa vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $904 per month in Abalessa and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abalessa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 16% 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.
How do dining costs compare in Abalessa vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Abalessa and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $603 in Abalessa and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abalessa costs $603 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Abalessa 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 Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Abalessa. 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.