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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $664 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,060 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,457 in Algiers.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 30% more expensive than in Algiers, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Algiers 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.28 DZD 435

-40.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$23.92 DZD 3,170

-23.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.75 DZD 630

57.47%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.98 DZD 130

106.12%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.62 DZD 81.7

37.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.21 DZD 27.71

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.00 DZD 264

7.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.34 DZD 311

53.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.00 DZD 132

65.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.16 DZD 20.96

881.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.83 DZD 243

-34.97%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.79 DZD 237

8.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$9.06 DZD 1,201

78.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.35 DZD 709

-44.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$16.43 DZD 2,177

-33.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.23 DZD 428

-16.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.84 DZD 376

-58.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.72 DZD 228

-1.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.93 DZD 123

72.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.60 DZD 79.1

130.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.46 DZD 60.9

160.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.72 DZD 95.1

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.30 DZD 40.20

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.73 DZD 362

69.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.86 DZD 909

156.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.29 DZD 171

44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.06 DZD 273

60.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.33 DZD 43.82

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$11.46 DZD 1,519

68.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.67 DZD 88.4

102.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.37 DZD 48.65

262.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.69 DZD 754

44.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.34 DZD 44.67

258.82%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$36.2K DZD 4.8M

-41.09%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.1K DZD 4.4M

-32.01%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$40.77 DZD 5,403

73.34%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$9.30 DZD 1,233

50.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$17.75 DZD 2,352

-1.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$24.80 DZD 3,287

69.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$22.88 DZD 3,032

-69.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.22 DZD 824

-4.82%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$94.9 DZD 12.6K

224.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,611 DZD 478.5K

312.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$36.09 DZD 4,782

54.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$45.21 DZD 5,991

-42.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$76.5 DZD 10.1K

8.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$77.8 DZD 10.3K

-9.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$222 DZD 29.5K

94.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$152 DZD 20.2K

56.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$435 DZD 57.6K

89.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$257 DZD 34.0K

99.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,535 DZD 336.0K

-24.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,386 DZD 183.7K

5.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$334 DZD 44.2K

73.55%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Algiers: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $222 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: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $24.00 in Algiers. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $207, 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, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 30% 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: $432 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $664 in Algiers – a 30% 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 30% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.