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: $947 in Chiang Mai versus $618 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,411 in Chiang Mai versus $1,018 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,874 in Chiang Mai versus $1,418 in Algiers.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 53% more expensive than in Algiers, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Algiers 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.41 DZD 451

-39.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$29.01 DZD 3,844

-32.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.54 DZD 602

24.45%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.11 DZD 147

63.06%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.67 DZD 89.0

5.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.30 DZD 40.09

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.26 DZD 300

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.27 DZD 301

59.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.86 DZD 114

127.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.15 DZD 19.33

900.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.16 DZD 153

15.52%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.34 DZD 178

68.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$8.38 DZD 1,111

94.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.07 DZD 539

-27.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$14.73 DZD 1,952

-32.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.19 DZD 290

17.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$2.85 DZD 378

-62.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.16 DZD 154

38.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.99 DZD 131

53.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.61 DZD 80.7

108.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.48 DZD 63.3

122.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.83 DZD 111

-13.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.26 DZD 34.36

96.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.19 DZD 422

31.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$6.92 DZD 917

158.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.32 DZD 174

28.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.00 DZD 264

42.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.38 DZD 50.6

144.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$7.04 DZD 933

665.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.55 DZD 73.3

123.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.48 DZD 63.7

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.67 DZD 752

-57.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.34 DZD 45.33

314.71%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$37.2K DZD 4.9M

-42.33%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$36.2K DZD 4.8M

-24.57%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$46.04 DZD 6,101

38.29%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$10.60 DZD 1,405

21.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$12.68 DZD 1,681

59.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$25.63 DZD 3,396

51.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$28.03 DZD 3,715

-85.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$4.68 DZD 620

44.02%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$563 DZD 74.6K

38.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$6,582 DZD 872.2K

121.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$33.82 DZD 4,482

60.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$35.66 DZD 4,726

-28.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$71.0 DZD 9,412

32.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$84.7 DZD 11.2K

-13.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$170 DZD 22.5K

188.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$133 DZD 17.7K

116.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$456 DZD 60.4K

96.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$247 DZD 32.8K

109.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$2,564 DZD 339.7K

-23.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$1,404 DZD 186.0K

5.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$347 DZD 46.0K

73.55%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Algiers: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $170 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 74% 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: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $29.00 in Algiers. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $181, 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 74% higher in Chiang Mai, 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: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $170 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 $29.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $947 per month in Chiang Mai versus $618 in Algiers – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $618 in Algiers versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 53% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.