🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $618 in Algiers versus $947 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Algiers versus $1,411 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,418 in Algiers versus $1,874 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Algiers costs roughly 35% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Algiers55% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41DZD 451
$2.08฿68.6
63.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.01DZD 3,844
$19.64฿646
47.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.54DZD 602
$5.65฿186
-19.65%
Cappuccino
$1.11DZD 147
$1.81฿59.4
-38.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67DZD 89.0
$0.71฿23.45
-5.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.09
$0.32฿10.38
-6.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26DZD 300
$2.24฿73.6
0.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27DZD 301
$3.63฿119
-37.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86DZD 114
$1.96฿64.4
-56.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 19.33
$1.50฿49.39
-90.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16DZD 153
$1.34฿43.93
-13.43%
Eggs
$1.34DZD 178
$2.26฿74.5
-40.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.38DZD 1,111
$16.26฿535
-48.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07DZD 539
$2.95฿97.1
37.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73DZD 1,952
$9.94฿327
48.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19DZD 290
$2.57฿84.6
-14.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85DZD 378
$1.06฿34.73
168.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16DZD 154
$1.61฿53.0
-27.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.52฿49.97
-34.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61DZD 80.7
$1.27฿41.77
-51.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48DZD 63.3
$1.07฿35.06
-55.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83DZD 111
$0.72฿23.68
15.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.36
$0.51฿16.72
-49.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19DZD 422
$4.19฿138
-23.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.92DZD 917
$17.87฿587
-61.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32DZD 174
$1.69฿55.7
-21.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00DZD 264
$2.84฿93.3
-29.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38DZD 50.6
$0.93฿30.43
-59.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.04DZD 933
$53.9฿1,771
-86.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.55DZD 73.3
$1.23฿40.59
-55.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48DZD 63.7
$0.58฿18.96
-17.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.67DZD 752
$2.42฿79.7
134.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 45.33
$1.41฿46.43
-75.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KDZD 4.9M
$21.4K฿705.1K
73.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
$27.3K฿898.7K
32.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.04DZD 6,101
$63.7฿2,093
-27.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.60DZD 1,405
$12.85฿423
-17.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.68DZD 1,681
$20.22฿665
-37.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.63DZD 3,396
$38.74฿1,274
-33.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.03DZD 3,715
$3.97฿130
606.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.68DZD 620
$6.74฿222
-30.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$563DZD 74.6K
$778฿25.6K
-27.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,582DZD 872.2K
$14.6K฿480.4K
-54.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.82DZD 4,482
$54.3฿1,785
-37.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66DZD 4,726
$25.45฿837
40.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0DZD 9,412
$94.3฿3,102
-24.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.7DZD 11.2K
$73.4฿2,415
15.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170DZD 22.5K
$490฿16.1K
-65.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133DZD 17.7K
$289฿9,512
-53.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456DZD 60.4K
$894฿29.4K
-48.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247DZD 32.8K
$517฿17.0K
-52.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,564DZD 339.7K
$1,955฿64.3K
31.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,404DZD 186.0K
$1,477฿48.6K
-4.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Algiers
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$347DZD 46.0K
$602฿19.8K
-42.38%
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 Algiers: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Algiers and $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Algiers vs $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $240, with Algiers cheaper for home cooking.
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
Algiers vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Algiers?
Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Algiers or Chiang Mai?
On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Algiers and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $170 in Algiers versus $490 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Algiers or in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Algiers and in Chiang Mai?
All in, you'll spend $618 per month in Algiers versus $947 in Chiang Mai – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Algiers or in Chiang Mai?
At $618 in Algiers versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Algiers or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Algiers is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Algiers or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Algiers and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.