Cost of Living Comparison Between Ain Beida and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ain Beida and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $625 per month in Ain Beida vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $985 per month in Ain Beida vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,345 per month in Ain Beida vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ain Beida is about 28% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ain Beida and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ain Beida 54% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 DZD 416
$1.98 ฿64.3
58.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.39 DZD 3,101
$18.80 ฿612
24.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 DZD 523
$7.75 ฿252
-49.03%
Cappuccino
$0.74 DZD 97.8
$1.92 ฿62.5
-61.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 DZD 74.8
$0.79 ฿25.79
-29.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 DZD 30.60
$0.36 ฿11.62
-36.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 DZD 265
$2.21 ฿72.1
-9.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 DZD 307
$3.66 ฿119
-36.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 DZD 132
$1.65 ฿53.8
-39.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.13 DZD 17.70
$1.63 ฿53.2
-92.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 DZD 268
$1.19 ฿38.86
69.75%
Eggs
$2.21 DZD 292
$2.00 ฿65.1
10.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.66 DZD 1,810
$15.98 ฿520
-14.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.72 DZD 626
$3.03 ฿98.5
55.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.00 DZD 2,121
$10.86 ฿354
47.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 DZD 425
$2.76 ฿90.0
15.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.93 DZD 388
$1.18 ฿38.42
148.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 DZD 225
$1.64 ฿53.5
3.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73 DZD 97.2
$1.52 ฿49.51
-51.97%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 DZD 77.4
$1.38 ฿45.10
-57.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 66.4
$1.19 ฿38.84
-57.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 DZD 80.1
$0.70 ฿22.86
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.86
$0.56 ฿18.13
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 DZD 367
$4.58 ฿149
-39.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.15 DZD 947
$16.56 ฿539
-56.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 DZD 172
$1.83 ฿59.5
-29.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 DZD 277
$3.20 ฿104
-34.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 DZD 30.47
$0.88 ฿28.56
-73.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.60 DZD 2,333
$18.72 ฿610
-5.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.65 DZD 85.9
$1.36 ฿44.16
-52.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 DZD 44.16
$1.34 ฿43.65
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 DZD 720
$7.84 ฿256
-30.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 DZD 47.76
$1.23 ฿39.92
-70.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K DZD 4.3M
$21.6K ฿704.3K
49.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K DZD 4.4M
$22.5K ฿734.3K
48.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.26 DZD 5,336
$70.5 ฿2,298
-42.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.37 DZD 1,242
$13.68 ฿445
-31.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.05 DZD 2,260
$17.45 ฿568
-2.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.07 DZD 3,057
$41.33 ฿1,346
-44.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 DZD 702
$5.77 ฿188
-8.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.5 DZD 12.3K
$307 ฿10.0K
-69.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,584 DZD 475.0K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-75.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.82 DZD 4,880
$55.8 ฿1,817
-34.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.34 DZD 6,009
$26.21 ฿854
72.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 DZD 10.1K
$85.8 ฿2,793
-11.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2 DZD 10.4K
$72.2 ฿2,353
8.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 DZD 26.0K
$430 ฿14.0K
-54.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$114 DZD 15.0K
$239 ฿7,774
-52.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 DZD 36.0K
$817 ฿26.6K
-66.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 DZD 24.4K
$511 ฿16.6K
-63.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,112 DZD 147.4K
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-43.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,124 DZD 148.9K
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-24.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$320 DZD 42.4K
$619 ฿20.2K
-48.28%
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 Ain Beida: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Ain Beida 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.

Salaries run about 93% 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 $23.00 in Ain Beida versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $218 in Ain Beida vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Ain Beida 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
Ain Beida vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ain Beida and Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $625 in Ain Beida, $869 in Chiang Mai – roughly 39% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ain Beida compared to Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $937 per month in Ain Beida and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ain Beida and Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ain Beida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ain Beida or Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $625 in Ain Beida and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ain Beida and Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Ain Beida. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $1,200 go in Ain Beida vs Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $625 in Ain Beida and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Ain Beida and Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $625 in Ain Beida to $869 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ain Beida or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ain Beida and Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ain Beida. 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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