🙂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 Beida54% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14DZD 416
$1.98฿64.3
58.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.39DZD 3,101
$18.80฿612
24.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.95DZD 523
$7.75฿252
-49.03%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 97.8
$1.92฿62.5
-61.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56DZD 74.8
$0.79฿25.79
-29.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.60
$0.36฿11.62
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00DZD 265
$2.21฿72.1
-9.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32DZD 307
$3.66฿119
-36.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00DZD 132
$1.65฿53.8
-39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.70
$1.63฿53.2
-92.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02DZD 268
$1.19฿38.86
69.75%
Eggs
$2.21DZD 292
$2.00฿65.1
10.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.66DZD 1,810
$15.98฿520
-14.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72DZD 626
$3.03฿98.5
55.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00DZD 2,121
$10.86฿354
47.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20DZD 425
$2.76฿90.0
15.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.93DZD 388
$1.18฿38.42
148.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69DZD 225
$1.64฿53.5
3.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73DZD 97.2
$1.52฿49.51
-51.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58DZD 77.4
$1.38฿45.10
-57.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.4
$1.19฿38.84
-57.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60DZD 80.1
$0.70฿22.86
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.86
$0.56฿18.13
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77DZD 367
$4.58฿149
-39.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.15DZD 947
$16.56฿539
-56.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 172
$1.83฿59.5
-29.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09DZD 277
$3.20฿104
-34.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.47
$0.88฿28.56
-73.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.60DZD 2,333
$18.72฿610
-5.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65DZD 85.9
$1.36฿44.16
-52.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33DZD 44.16
$1.34฿43.65
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.43DZD 720
$7.84฿256
-30.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 47.76
$1.23฿39.92
-70.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KDZD 4.3M
$21.6K฿704.3K
49.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KDZD 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)
$40.26DZD 5,336
$70.5฿2,298
-42.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.37DZD 1,242
$13.68฿445
-31.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.05DZD 2,260
$17.45฿568
-2.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.07DZD 3,057
$41.33฿1,346
-44.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.30DZD 702
$5.77฿188
-8.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.5DZD 12.3K
$307฿10.0K
-69.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,584DZD 475.0K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.82DZD 4,880
$55.8฿1,817
-34.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.34DZD 6,009
$26.21฿854
72.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.0DZD 10.1K
$85.8฿2,793
-11.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2DZD 10.4K
$72.2฿2,353
8.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196DZD 26.0K
$430฿14.0K
-54.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.0K
$239฿7,774
-52.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272DZD 36.0K
$817฿26.6K
-66.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184DZD 24.4K
$511฿16.6K
-63.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,112DZD 147.4K
$1,983฿64.6K
-43.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,124DZD 148.9K
$1,484฿48.3K
-24.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ain Beida
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$320DZD 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.