🙂A single person spends $618 per month in Abalessa vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $989 per month in Abalessa vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,360 per month in Abalessa vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Abalessa is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Abalessa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Abalessa54% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.22DZD 426
$1.96฿63.3
64.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.30DZD 3,085
$18.81฿608
23.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.86DZD 512
$7.92฿256
-51.26%
Cappuccino
$0.73DZD 96.1
$1.91฿61.9
-61.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 80.5
$0.84฿27.11
-27.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.72
$0.35฿11.38
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93DZD 256
$2.21฿71.3
-12.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35DZD 311
$3.80฿123
-38.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 137
$1.64฿52.9
-37.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.48
$1.62฿52.5
-91.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57DZD 208
$1.18฿38.20
33.05%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 248
$2.01฿65.1
-6.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.09DZD 1,203
$15.89฿514
-42.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15DZD 683
$3.01฿97.4
71.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.27DZD 2,155
$10.77฿348
51.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17DZD 420
$2.61฿84.5
21.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87DZD 379
$1.22฿39.44
135.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73DZD 229
$1.70฿55.1
1.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80DZD 107
$1.58฿51.0
-49.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 77.5
$1.32฿42.67
-55.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46DZD 61.3
$1.17฿37.81
-60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60DZD 79.4
$0.67฿21.74
-10.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.85
$0.56฿18.11
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80DZD 371
$4.53฿147
-38.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03DZD 931
$18.20฿589
-61.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35DZD 178
$1.83฿59.3
-26.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10DZD 278
$3.23฿104
-34.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.16
$0.89฿28.68
-71.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.12DZD 2,267
$19.38฿627
-11.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65DZD 85.8
$1.35฿43.72
-51.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.87
$1.35฿43.56
-74.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.17DZD 684
$8.25฿267
-37.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.71
$1.27฿41.18
-73.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KDZD 4.3M
$21.2K฿684.2K
53.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KDZD 4.4M
$22.5K฿727.2K
47.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.19DZD 5,322
$70.2฿2,269
-42.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.33DZD 1,235
$13.77฿445
-32.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.20DZD 2,277
$17.60฿569
-2.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.35DZD 3,092
$41.57฿1,345
-43.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿213
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.36DZD 710
$5.78฿187
-7.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8DZD 12.6K
$306฿9,901
-69.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,557DZD 471.1K
$14.8K฿479.4K
-76.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.23DZD 4,798
$54.4฿1,758
-33.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.80DZD 5,933
$26.14฿845
71.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.9DZD 9,792
$84.5฿2,734
-12.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7DZD 10.2K
$69.4฿2,245
10.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$193DZD 25.6K
$424฿13.7K
-54.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.4K
$238฿7,703
-51.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276DZD 36.6K
$825฿26.7K
-66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181DZD 24.0K
$515฿16.7K
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.5K
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $193 in Abalessa 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Abalessa versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Abalessa vs $243 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 38% 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 $926 per month in Abalessa 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, 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 19% 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 $23.00 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 $618 in Abalessa and $852 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 $618 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 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.