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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $565 in Ain Beida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $923 in Ain Beida, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,282 in Ain Beida, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 65% more than Ain Beida, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Ain Beida are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ain Beida 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.31 DZD 442

-37.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$16.72 DZD 2,233

17.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.15 DZD 554

36.63%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$0.69 DZD 92.2

162.32%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.61 DZD 81.9

26.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.30 DZD 40.44

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.56 DZD 209

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.98 DZD 264

91.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.91 DZD 121

125.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.16 DZD 20.95

843.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.09 DZD 280

-33.01%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.41 DZD 188

60.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.62 DZD 1,820

18.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.96 DZD 663

-41.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$16.39 DZD 2,190

-42.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.08 DZD 278

28.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.91 DZD 388

-62.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.15 DZD 154

40.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.95 DZD 126

53.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.64 DZD 86.1

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.47 DZD 62.2

125.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.68 DZD 91.5

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.26 DZD 34.38

103.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.80 DZD 374

51.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.58 DZD 1,012

141.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.24 DZD 166

31.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.21 DZD 295

31.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.16 DZD 21.69

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$6.37 DZD 851

744.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.59 DZD 78.4

98.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.39 DZD 52.6

48.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.97 DZD 663

-51.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.35 DZD 47.02

314.29%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$36.1K DZD 4.8M

-41.85%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$35.3K DZD 4.7M

-25.08%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$38.98 DZD 5,208

63.29%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$9.18 DZD 1,226

40.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.87 DZD 1,719

59.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$20.59 DZD 2,750

89.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.65 DZD 621

41.51%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$101 DZD 13.4K

679.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$3,072 DZD 410.3K

377.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$33.67 DZD 4,497

63.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$35.10 DZD 4,689

-29.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$71.1 DZD 9,493

32.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$76.1 DZD 10.2K

-2.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$164 DZD 21.9K

199.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$114 DZD 15.2K

152.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$301 DZD 40.3K

195.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$218 DZD 29.2K

138.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,181 DZD 157.7K

67.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$311 DZD 41.6K

93.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.3

5.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ain Beida: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $164 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 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Ain Beida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $211 – making Ain Beida 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai, $565 in Ain Beida – roughly 65% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $847 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $565 in Ain Beida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 744% less in Ain Beida. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ain Beida, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ain Beida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $565 in Ain Beida to $932 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.