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 $991 per month in Ain Beida vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,352 per month in Ain Beida vs $1,857 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 DZD 415

$1.96 ฿63.6

59.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.97 DZD 3,178

$18.81 ฿611

27.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.94 DZD 523

$7.92 ฿258

-50.25%

Cappuccino

$0.73 DZD 96.4

$1.91 ฿62.2

-61.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 DZD 81.9

$0.84 ฿27.25

-26.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 DZD 30.57

$0.35 ฿11.44

-34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 DZD 265

$2.21 ฿71.7

-9.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 DZD 316

$3.80 ฿124

-37.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 DZD 136

$1.64 ฿53.2

-37.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 DZD 21.26

$1.62 ฿52.8

-90.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 DZD 278

$1.18 ฿38.40

77.12%

Eggs

$2.23 DZD 296

$2.01 ฿65.4

10.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.45 DZD 1,784

$15.89 ฿517

-15.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 DZD 638

$3.01 ฿98.0

59.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.38 DZD 2,172

$10.77 ฿350

52.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 DZD 425

$2.61 ฿85.0

22.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 DZD 374

$1.22 ฿39.65

131.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 DZD 238

$1.70 ฿55.4

5.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 DZD 104

$1.58 ฿51.2

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 DZD 72.9

$1.32 ฿42.89

-58.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 DZD 65.4

$1.17 ฿38.01

-58.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 DZD 85.7

$0.67 ฿21.85

-2.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 DZD 40.20

$0.56 ฿18.21

-46.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 DZD 356

$4.53 ฿147

-40.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.11 DZD 811

$18.20 ฿592

-66.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 DZD 179

$1.83 ฿59.6

-26.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 DZD 287

$3.23 ฿105

-33.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 DZD 30.38

$0.89 ฿28.83

-74.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 DZD 2,338

$19.38 ฿630

-9.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 DZD 86.7

$1.35 ฿43.95

-51.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 DZD 44.86

$1.35 ฿43.79

-74.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 DZD 715

$8.25 ฿268

-34.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 DZD 48.27

$1.27 ฿41.40

-71.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.0K DZD 4.4M

$21.2K ฿687.8K

56.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.0K DZD 4.5M

$22.5K ฿731.0K

51.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.29 DZD 5,476

$70.2 ฿2,281

-41.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.44 DZD 1,252

$13.77 ฿448

-31.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.68 DZD 2,213

$17.60 ฿572

-5.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.20 DZD 3,077

$41.57 ฿1,352

-44.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 DZD 728

$5.78 ฿188

-5.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$93.2 DZD 12.4K

$306 ฿9,953

-69.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,599 DZD 477.3K

$14.8K ฿482.0K

-75.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.45 DZD 4,967

$54.4 ฿1,768

-31.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.07 DZD 5,978

$26.14 ฿850

72.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 DZD 10.1K

$84.5 ฿2,748

-10.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 DZD 10.4K

$69.4 ฿2,257

12.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 DZD 26.2K

$424 ฿13.8K

-53.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 DZD 15.5K

$238 ฿7,743

-50.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 DZD 36.7K

$825 ฿26.8K

-66.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 DZD 24.0K

$515 ฿16.7K

-64.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$317 DZD 42.0K

$635 ฿20.6K

-50.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.42

8.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ain Beida: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $197 in Ain Beida 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.

Salaries run about 100% 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 $24.00 in Ain Beida versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Ain Beida vs $243 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

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $946 per month in Ain Beida and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

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.

Public transport costs about 10% less in Ain Beida. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$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.

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.

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.

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.