Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bechar and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Bechar: $522 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bechar, Algeria
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bechar
🇩🇿 Algeria
$522
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bechar and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bechar and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Bechar versus $936 in Chiang Mai.

  • Bechar $522
  • Chiang Mai $936

Estimated couple costs with rent: $867 in Bechar versus $1,457 in Chiang Mai.

  • Bechar $867
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,211 in Bechar versus $1,979 in Chiang Mai.

  • Bechar $1,211
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Living in Bechar costs roughly 44% less than in Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bechar 62% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63 DZD 488
$2.24 ฿75.7
62.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.19 DZD 2,314
$19.00 ฿642
-9.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.20 DZD 566
$5.55 ฿188
-24.32%
Cappuccino
$0.71 DZD 95.7
$1.67 ฿56.6
-57.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 DZD 75.5
$0.64 ฿21.56
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 DZD 34.44
$0.31 ฿10.32
-16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 DZD 196
$2.36 ฿79.6
-38.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 DZD 272
$3.66 ฿124
-44.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 DZD 123
$1.95 ฿65.8
-53.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 DZD 20.32
$1.44 ฿48.51
-89.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 DZD 155
$1.33 ฿45.07
-13.53%
Eggs
$1.20 DZD 162
$2.28 ฿77.1
-47.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 DZD 1,106
$16.45 ฿556
-50.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.02 DZD 541
$2.78 ฿94.0
44.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.12 DZD 1,902
$9.31 ฿314
51.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 DZD 272
$2.35 ฿79.5
-14.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 DZD 376
$0.97 ฿32.82
187.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 DZD 149
$1.60 ฿53.9
-30.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 DZD 123
$1.50 ฿50.7
-38.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 DZD 77.7
$1.28 ฿43.15
-54.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 DZD 62.0
$1.10 ฿37.22
-58.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 DZD 96.1
$0.71 ฿23.84
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 DZD 34.30
$0.49 ฿16.38
-48.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 DZD 362
$4.14 ฿140
-35.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.43 DZD 865
$17.52 ฿592
-63.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 DZD 191
$1.61 ฿54.5
-11.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 DZD 237
$2.78 ฿94.0
-36.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 DZD 34.62
$0.87 ฿29.33
-70.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.92 DZD 797
$54.1 ฿1,827
-89.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 DZD 70.2
$1.16 ฿39.08
-55.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 DZD 65.0
$0.53 ฿17.82
-9.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 DZD 792
$2.42 ฿81.8
142.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.39 DZD 52.2
$1.45 ฿48.93
-73.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K DZD 3.8M
$21.1K ฿711.2K
33.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K DZD 4.3M
$26.9K ฿909.8K
19.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 DZD 5,155
$62.2 ฿2,100
-38.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43 DZD 1,269
$12.17 ฿411
-22.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.44 DZD 1,810
$20.12 ฿680
-33.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.74 DZD 3,197
$37.31 ฿1,260
-36.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77 ฿127
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.62 DZD 623
$6.49 ฿219
-28.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$367 DZD 49.4K
$736 ฿24.9K
-50.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,430 DZD 731.2K
$14.8K ฿498.6K
-63.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.71 DZD 4,001
$53.4 ฿1,802
-44.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.21 DZD 4,069
$24.64 ฿832
22.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.4 DZD 9,339
$91.5 ฿3,089
-24.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 DZD 10.8K
$71.9 ฿2,429
10.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$123 DZD 16.6K
$482 ฿16.3K
-74.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$84.4 DZD 11.4K
$309 ฿10.4K
-72.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 DZD 38.1K
$1,006 ฿34.0K
-71.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 DZD 29.4K
$633 ฿21.4K
-65.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$941 DZD 126.8K
$2,363 ฿79.8K
-60.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,105 DZD 148.8K
$1,589 ฿53.7K
-30.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bechar
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$590 ฿19.9K
-
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 Bechar: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bechar
$175
Chiang Mai
$234 33.9% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Bechar
$94
Chiang Mai
$109 15.5% $15
Accommodation & Living
Bechar
$84
Chiang Mai
$309 266% $225
Eating Out
Bechar
$65
Chiang Mai
$78 19.9% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bechar
$61
Chiang Mai
$94 54.5% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Bechar
$33
Chiang Mai
$50 52.4% $17
Getting Around
Bechar
$9.9
Chiang Mai
$61 521% $51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $123 in Bechar and $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17 in Bechar vs $19 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $234 per month, with Bechar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇿 Bechar
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
19:41 7:41 PM
01:41 1:41 AM
6 h ahead of Bechar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
165,627
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to DZD – Algerian Dinar Converter

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.43 USD). 1 EUR = 150 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.67 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bechar Chiang Mai 9,930 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bechar
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bechar vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bechar or Chiang Mai?
Bechar wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Bechar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bechar and in Chiang Mai?
You’d need roughly $783 in Bechar and $1,403 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bechar compared to Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $123 in Bechar versus $482 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bechar and in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Bechar – a meal for two runs $17 versus $19 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bechar compared to Chiang Mai?
All in, you’ll spend $522 per month in Bechar versus $936 in Chiang Mai – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Bechar or in Chiang Mai?
At $522 in Bechar versus $936 in Chiang Mai, a $800 budget is realistic in Bechar but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Bechar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bechar or Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Bechar compared to Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Bechar 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bechar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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