🙂A single person spends $578 per month in Bejaia vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $875 per month in Bejaia vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,172 per month in Bejaia vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Bejaia is about 34% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bejaia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Bejaia57% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.33DZD 309
$1.98฿64.3
17.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.78DZD 1,031
$18.80฿612
-58.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78DZD 634
$7.75฿252
-38.32%
Cappuccino
$0.25DZD 33.24
$1.92฿62.5
-86.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 80.4
$0.79฿25.79
-22.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.76
$0.36฿11.62
-41.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98DZD 262
$2.21฿72.1
-10.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21DZD 160
$3.66฿119
-66.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04DZD 138
$1.65฿53.8
-36.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 16.98
$1.63฿53.2
-92.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53DZD 202
$1.19฿38.86
28.57%
Eggs
$1.79DZD 237
$2.00฿65.1
-10.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.25DZD 828
$15.98฿520
-60.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41DZD 717
$3.03฿98.5
78.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.39DZD 2,173
$10.86฿354
50.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21DZD 426
$2.76฿90.0
16.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96DZD 260
$1.18฿38.42
66.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79DZD 237
$1.64฿53.5
9.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92DZD 122
$1.52฿49.51
-39.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 78.6
$1.38฿45.10
-57.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.6
$1.19฿38.84
-58.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67DZD 88.2
$0.70฿22.86
-4.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.65
$0.56฿18.13
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72DZD 360
$4.58฿149
-40.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.86DZD 910
$16.56฿539
-58.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31DZD 173
$1.83฿59.5
-28.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10DZD 279
$3.20฿104
-34.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17DZD 22.47
$0.88฿28.56
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.22DZD 3,078
$18.72฿610
24.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 92.7
$1.36฿44.16
-48.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 47.78
$1.34฿43.65
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.02DZD 533
$7.84฿256
-48.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.36
$1.23฿39.92
-73.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KDZD 4.8M
$21.6K฿704.3K
66.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KDZD 4.5M
$22.5K฿734.3K
50.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.84DZD 5,413
$70.5฿2,298
-42.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.59DZD 1,271
$13.68฿445
-29.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.63DZD 2,336
$17.45฿568
1.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.07DZD 2,792
$41.33฿1,346
-49.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92DZD 785
$6.96฿227
-14.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66DZD 617
$5.77฿188
-19.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.8DZD 12.4K
$307฿10.0K
-69.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,322DZD 307.8K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-84.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.36DZD 4,288
$55.8฿1,817
-42.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.66DZD 5,919
$26.21฿854
70.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.5DZD 8,288
$85.8฿2,793
-27.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9DZD 10.3K
$72.2฿2,353
7.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$430฿14.0K
-54.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.1K
$239฿7,774
-52.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274DZD 36.3K
$817฿26.6K
-66.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182DZD 24.2K
$511฿16.6K
-64.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,640DZD 614.9K
$1,983฿64.6K
133.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,951DZD 523.6K
$1,484฿48.3K
166.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bejaia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$316DZD 41.9K
$619฿20.2K
-48.87%
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 Bejaia: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Bejaia 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 96% 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 $8.00 in Bejaia versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $241 – making Bejaia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bejaia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bejaia or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Bejaia, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bejaia vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $867 per month in Bejaia and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bejaia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bejaia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Bejaia vs Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Bejaia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Bejaia and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.8 per month in Bejaia and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Bejaia or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $578 in Bejaia and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bejaia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bejaia costs $578 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bejaia compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Bejaia or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Bejaia. 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.