🙂A single person spends $546 per month in Abalessa vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $871 per month in Abalessa vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,195 per month in Abalessa vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Abalessa is about 41% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Abalessa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Abalessa60% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98DZD 398
$2.08฿69.2
43.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.82DZD 2,510
$19.61฿652
-4.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99DZD 532
$5.67฿189
-29.63%
Cappuccino
$0.70DZD 93.4
$1.81฿60.0
-61.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55DZD 73.7
$0.77฿25.55
-28.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29DZD 38.77
$0.35฿11.48
-17.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55DZD 207
$2.21฿73.6
-29.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30DZD 307
$3.79฿126
-39.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84DZD 111
$2.05฿68.1
-59.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 18.27
$1.51฿50.4
-90.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00DZD 133
$1.40฿46.51
-28.57%
Eggs
$1.46DZD 194
$2.26฿75.1
-35.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.87DZD 1,183
$16.19฿538
-45.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.52DZD 470
$2.90฿96.3
21.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.44DZD 2,059
$9.42฿313
63.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.83DZD 244
$2.68฿89.1
-31.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54DZD 338
$1.09฿36.23
133.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.21DZD 162
$1.62฿53.8
-25.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92DZD 123
$1.46฿48.55
-36.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71DZD 94.4
$1.28฿42.48
-44.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52DZD 69.4
$1.06฿35.17
-50.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74DZD 99.2
$0.72฿23.85
2.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.64
$0.53฿17.49
-50.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51DZD 335
$4.23฿141
-40.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.91DZD 922
$18.29฿608
-62.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10DZD 147
$1.63฿54.2
-32.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90DZD 253
$2.90฿96.5
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19DZD 25.50
$0.88฿29.20
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.42DZD 857
$53.8฿1,788
-88.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52DZD 69.9
$1.17฿38.99
-55.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43DZD 57.7
$0.58฿19.22
-25.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77DZD 770
$2.39฿79.3
141.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 49.96
$1.45฿48.22
-74.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KDZD 4.6M
$21.0K฿698.6K
65.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KDZD 4.3M
$26.4K฿878.6K
20.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.98DZD 4,799
$63.7฿2,116
-43.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95DZD 1,327
$12.89฿429
-22.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.61DZD 1,549
$20.52฿682
-43.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.94DZD 2,793
$39.02฿1,297
-46.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30DZD 573
$6.58฿219
-34.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104DZD 13.9K
$784฿26.1K
-86.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,988DZD 398.4K
$14.7K฿487.9K
-79.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.32DZD 4,044
$55.1฿1,833
-44.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.08DZD 4,945
$24.74฿823
49.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.1DZD 8,680
$94.1฿3,130
-30.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3DZD 10.3K
$74.0฿2,459
4.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$168DZD 22.4K
$490฿16.3K
-65.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$102DZD 13.7K
$288฿9,582
-64.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275DZD 36.7K
$891฿29.6K
-69.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$207DZD 27.5K
$521฿17.3K
-60.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,185DZD 158.0K
$1,974฿65.6K
-39.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abalessa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
5.57
-4.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abalessa: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $168 in Abalessa versus $490 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 $19.00 in Abalessa versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $241 – making Abalessa 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
Abalessa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 71% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $820 per month in Abalessa and $1,398 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 37% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Abalessa and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Abalessa or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abalessa, where all-in costs run around $546, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Abalessa 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, Abalessa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abalessa costs $546 versus $932 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 to 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.