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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Ain Beida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $985 in Ain Beida, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,345 in Ain Beida, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Ain Beida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ain Beida are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ain Beida 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$3.14 DZD 416

-36.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$23.39 DZD 3,101

-19.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$3.95 DZD 523

96.20%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$0.74 DZD 97.8

159.46%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.56 DZD 74.8

41.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.23 DZD 30.60

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.00 DZD 265

10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.32 DZD 307

57.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.00 DZD 132

65.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.13 DZD 17.70

1153.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.02 DZD 268

-41.09%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.21 DZD 292

-9.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.66 DZD 1,810

16.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$4.72 DZD 626

-35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$16.00 DZD 2,121

-32.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.20 DZD 425

-13.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.93 DZD 388

-59.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.69 DZD 225

-2.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.73 DZD 97.2

108.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.58 DZD 77.4

137.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.50 DZD 66.4

138.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.60 DZD 80.1

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.28 DZD 36.86

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.77 DZD 367

65.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.15 DZD 947

131.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.29 DZD 172

41.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.09 DZD 277

53.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.23 DZD 30.47

282.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$17.60 DZD 2,333

6.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.65 DZD 85.9

109.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.33 DZD 44.16

306.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.43 DZD 720

44.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.36 DZD 47.76

241.67%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$32.2K DZD 4.3M

-32.93%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$33.4K DZD 4.4M

-32.44%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$40.26 DZD 5,336

75.21%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$9.37 DZD 1,242

46.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$17.05 DZD 2,260

2.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$23.07 DZD 3,057

79.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.30 DZD 702

8.87%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$92.5 DZD 12.3K

231.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$3,584 DZD 475.0K

307.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$36.82 DZD 4,880

51.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$45.34 DZD 6,009

-42.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$76.0 DZD 10.1K

12.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$78.2 DZD 10.4K

-7.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$196 DZD 26.0K

119.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$114 DZD 15.0K

110.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$272 DZD 36.0K

200.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$184 DZD 24.4K

177.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,112 DZD 147.4K

78.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,124 DZD 148.9K

32.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$320 DZD 42.4K

93.35%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ain Beida: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $196 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Ain Beida. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $218 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: $869 in Chiang Mai, $625 in Ain Beida – roughly 39% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $937 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $625 in Ain Beida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $625 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 $625 in Ain Beida to $869 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.