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 $630 per month in Ain Beida vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $998 per month in Ain Beida vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,367 per month in Ain Beida vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ain Beida is about 26% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ain Beida and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ain Beida 53% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.15 DZD 416
$2.04 ฿68.4
54.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.25 DZD 3,077
$18.71 ฿626
24.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 DZD 530
$7.86 ฿263
-49.11%
Cappuccino
$0.78 DZD 103
$2.03 ฿67.9
-61.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 DZD 76.6
$0.80 ฿26.71
-27.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 DZD 30.46
$0.35 ฿11.71
-34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 DZD 253
$2.14 ฿71.7
-10.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 DZD 319
$3.67 ฿123
-34.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 DZD 135
$1.73 ฿57.8
-41.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.13 DZD 17.59
$1.57 ฿52.5
-91.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 DZD 277
$1.20 ฿40.10
74.17%
Eggs
$2.21 DZD 292
$1.97 ฿66.0
12.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.70 DZD 1,813
$16.23 ฿543
-15.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 DZD 631
$3.06 ฿102
55.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.15 DZD 2,137
$10.80 ฿361
49.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 DZD 418
$2.77 ฿92.6
14.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 DZD 374
$1.17 ฿39.05
141.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 DZD 229
$1.71 ฿57.1
1.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 DZD 99.8
$1.59 ฿53.3
-52.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 DZD 77.5
$1.39 ฿46.63
-57.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 66.7
$1.16 ฿38.67
-56.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 DZD 85.8
$0.66 ฿22.11
-1.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 DZD 40.13
$0.52 ฿17.35
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78 DZD 369
$4.65 ฿155
-40.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.97 DZD 923
$17.78 ฿595
-60.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 DZD 172
$1.79 ฿59.8
-27.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 DZD 276
$3.34 ฿112
-37.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 DZD 33.26
$0.91 ฿30.35
-72.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.36 DZD 2,298
$18.64 ฿624
-6.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 DZD 91.4
$1.41 ฿47.17
-51.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 DZD 48.04
$1.34 ฿44.82
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 DZD 681
$8.11 ฿271
-36.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 DZD 47.94
$1.23 ฿41.27
-70.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K DZD 4.3M
$21.4K ฿717.0K
51.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K DZD 4.5M
$21.8K ฿730.0K
54.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.46 DZD 5,355
$71.3 ฿2,386
-43.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.27 DZD 1,227
$14.01 ฿469
-33.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.84 DZD 2,228
$17.93 ฿600
-6.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.39 DZD 3,096
$40.82 ฿1,365
-42.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.43 DZD 719
$5.72 ฿191
-5.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.1 DZD 12.3K
$308 ฿10.3K
-69.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,639 DZD 481.6K
$14.7K ฿491.0K
-75.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.06 DZD 4,772
$55.8 ฿1,865
-35.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.34 DZD 6,134
$26.04 ฿871
77.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 DZD 10.1K
$84.8 ฿2,837
-10.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6 DZD 10.0K
$71.0 ฿2,375
6.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 DZD 25.6K
$423 ฿14.2K
-54.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 DZD 15.5K
$242 ฿8,110
-51.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 DZD 36.5K
$797 ฿26.7K
-65.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 DZD 24.1K
$507 ฿17.0K
-64.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,050 DZD 139.0K
$1,918 ฿64.2K
-45.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,296 DZD 171.6K
$1,464 ฿49.0K
-11.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$313 DZD 41.4K
$595 ฿19.9K
-47.45%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $193 in Ain Beida versus $423 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 90% 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 – $219 in Ain Beida vs $244 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 in Chiang Mai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $630 in Ain Beida, $852 in Chiang Mai – roughly 35% 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 $944 per month in Ain Beida and $1,279 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 $630 in Ain Beida and $852 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 in Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 7% 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 compared to Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $630 in Ain Beida and $852 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 $630 in Ain Beida to $852 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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