Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Algiers Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Algiers

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $646 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,034 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,422 in Algiers.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 34% more expensive than Algiers, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Algiers 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$3.25 DZD 431

-40.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.07 DZD 3,195

-22.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.66 DZD 619

67.81%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.02 DZD 136

91.18%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.56 DZD 74.6

51.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.21 DZD 27.75

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.96 DZD 260

8.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.35 DZD 311

58.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.00 DZD 133

71.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.16 DZD 20.78

918.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.82 DZD 242

-37.36%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.87 DZD 248

3.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.90 DZD 1,181

82.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.25 DZD 697

-40.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$16.67 DZD 2,212

-34.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.06 DZD 406

-10.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.97 DZD 394

-59.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.76 DZD 233

-7.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.88 DZD 116

80.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.59 DZD 78.4

137.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.50 DZD 66.1

134.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.71 DZD 94.7

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.28 DZD 37.15

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.70 DZD 359

73.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.14 DZD 948

161.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.28 DZD 170

40.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.09 DZD 277

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.33 DZD 43.98

172.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$11.80 DZD 1,566

62.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.70 DZD 92.8

101.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.34 DZD 44.54

279.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.47 DZD 725

43.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.36 DZD 48.09

252.78%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$35.3K DZD 4.7M

-39.79%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$34.1K DZD 4.5M

-34.83%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$40.87 DZD 5,425

69.00%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.56 DZD 1,269

47.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$17.89 DZD 2,374

0.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$24.51 DZD 3,253

67.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$22.74 DZD 3,018

-69.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.29 DZD 834

-5.88%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$93.2 DZD 12.4K

220.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$3,596 DZD 477.3K

315.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$36.85 DZD 4,890

48.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$46.31 DZD 6,146

-42.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$76.4 DZD 10.1K

11.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$77.4 DZD 10.3K

-8.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$222 DZD 29.5K

92.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$154 DZD 20.5K

53.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$446 DZD 59.2K

79.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$261 DZD 34.7K

97.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,602 DZD 345.4K

-24.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,402 DZD 186.1K

5.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$342 DZD 45.4K

80.47%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Algiers: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $222 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $24.00 in Algiers. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $208, with Algiers cheaper for home cooking.

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 Algiers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 80% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $222 in Algiers. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $646 in Algiers – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Algiers gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Algiers is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Algiers are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.