😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $654 in Annaba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,066 in Annaba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,478 in Annaba.
😐Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 32% more expensive than Annaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai35% lower, Annaba51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$2.98DZD 395
-34.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$33.09DZD 4,392
-43.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$6.51DZD 864
20.12%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$1.47DZD 195
32.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$0.81DZD 107
4.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$0.27DZD 36.12
29.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$1.93DZD 256
10.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$2.31DZD 306
61.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.99DZD 132
72.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$0.28DZD 37.08
482.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$1.82DZD 241
-37.36%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
$2.07DZD 274
-6.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$6.16DZD 817
163.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$4.72DZD 626
-33.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$21.08DZD 2,797
-48.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$3.18DZD 422
-13.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$3.50DZD 465
-65.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.75DZD 232
-7.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$0.75DZD 99.8
112.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$0.70DZD 93.0
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$0.40DZD 53.5
192.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$0.49DZD 65.6
34.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$0.36DZD 48.39
47.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$3.20DZD 424
46.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$6.77DZD 898
175.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.35DZD 179
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.18DZD 289
48.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
$0.15DZD 20.22
500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$17.37DZD 2,306
10.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$0.70DZD 92.6
101.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$0.36DZD 47.89
258.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$5.37DZD 713
46.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.62
$0.34DZD 45.73
273.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿695.5K
$32.8KDZD 4.3M
-35.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
$33.3KDZD 4.4M
-33.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$49.74DZD 6,601
38.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$11.25DZD 1,494
25.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$23.55DZD 3,125
-23.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
$23.62DZD 3,135
73.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$4.62DZD 613
50.65%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$1.88DZD 250
214.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$39.15DZD 5,196
663.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$3,626DZD 481.2K
312.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$58.6DZD 7,775
-6.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
$41.15DZD 5,462
-34.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$70.3DZD 9,331
20.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$86.2DZD 11.4K
-18.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$173DZD 23.0K
146.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
$124DZD 16.5K
90.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$295DZD 39.2K
171.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
$206DZD 27.4K
149.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$928DZD 123.2K
112.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$643DZD 85.3K
129.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$321DZD 42.6K
92.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.75
-13.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Annaba: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $173 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 92% 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 $33.00 in Annaba. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $215, with Annaba 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 Annaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annaba cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Annaba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Annaba?
Chiang Mai pays 92% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Annaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $173 in Annaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Annaba runs roughly 11% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $39.15 in Annaba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 enough for either Chiang Mai or Annaba?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Annaba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Chiang Mai or Annaba more family-friendly?
For families, Annaba 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.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Annaba?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Annaba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Annaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared