Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ain Beida Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ain Beida

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $630 in Ain Beida, rent included.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Ain Beida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ain Beida are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ain Beida 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$3.13 DZD 415

-37.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$23.97 DZD 3,178

-21.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$3.94 DZD 523

101.02%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$0.73 DZD 96.4

161.64%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$0.62 DZD 81.9

35.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.23 DZD 30.57

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$2.00 DZD 265

10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.38 DZD 316

59.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.03 DZD 136

59.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.16 DZD 21.26

912.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$2.09 DZD 278

-43.54%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$2.23 DZD 296

-9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$13.45 DZD 1,784

18.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$4.81 DZD 638

-37.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$16.38 DZD 2,172

-34.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$3.20 DZD 425

-18.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$2.82 DZD 374

-56.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.79 DZD 238

-5.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$0.79 DZD 104

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$0.55 DZD 72.9

140.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$0.49 DZD 65.4

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$0.65 DZD 85.7

3.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$0.30 DZD 40.20

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$2.69 DZD 356

68.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$6.11 DZD 811

197.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.35 DZD 179

35.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.16 DZD 287

49.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.23 DZD 30.38

286.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$17.63 DZD 2,338

9.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$0.65 DZD 86.7

107.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$0.34 DZD 44.86

297.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$5.39 DZD 715

53.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$0.36 DZD 48.27

252.78%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$33.0K DZD 4.4M

-35.91%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$34.0K DZD 4.5M

-33.88%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$41.29 DZD 5,476

69.90%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$9.44 DZD 1,252

45.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$16.68 DZD 2,213

5.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$23.20 DZD 3,077

79.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$5.49 DZD 728

5.28%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$93.2 DZD 12.4K

228.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$3,599 DZD 477.3K

311.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$37.45 DZD 4,967

45.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$45.07 DZD 5,978

-42.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$76.0 DZD 10.1K

11.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$78.1 DZD 10.4K

-11.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$197 DZD 26.2K

114.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$117 DZD 15.5K

103.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$277 DZD 36.7K

197.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$181 DZD 24.0K

184.13%

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)

$635 ฿20.6K

$317 DZD 42.0K

100.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.42

-7.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ain Beida: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $197 in Ain Beida. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Ain Beida. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Ain Beida – 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

Chiang Mai vs Ain Beida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai, $630 in Ain Beida – roughly 35% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $946 in Ain Beida. 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $630 in Ain Beida. 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $630 in Ain Beida, 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.