😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai versus $620 in Annaba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,411 in Chiang Mai versus $1,006 in Annaba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,874 in Chiang Mai versus $1,393 in Annaba.
🌍Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 53% more expensive than in Annaba, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai31% lower, Annaba55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿68.6
$2.93DZD 388
-29.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64฿646
$32.27DZD 4,276
-39.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65฿186
$6.33DZD 839
-10.74%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿59.4
$0.70DZD 93.0
158.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.45
$0.79DZD 105
-10.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.38
$0.27DZD 35.86
18.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24฿73.6
$1.36DZD 180
64.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿119
$1.89DZD 250
92.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96฿64.4
$0.92DZD 122
113.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.39
$0.28DZD 37.49
435.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34฿43.93
$1.67DZD 221
-19.76%
Eggs
$2.26฿74.5
$2.04DZD 270
10.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26฿535
$6.19DZD 821
162.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95฿97.1
$5.02DZD 665
-41.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.94฿327
$20.39DZD 2,703
-51.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57฿84.6
$2.08DZD 276
23.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06฿34.73
$3.56DZD 472
-70.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61฿53.0
$1.16DZD 153
38.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.97
$0.80DZD 107
90.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27฿41.77
$0.68DZD 90.1
86.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿35.06
$0.38DZD 49.82
181.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.68
$0.51DZD 68.0
41.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.72
$0.34DZD 44.67
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿138
$3.13DZD 415
33.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.87฿587
$6.30DZD 835
183.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿55.7
$1.27DZD 168
33.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿93.3
$2.21DZD 292
28.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93฿30.43
$0.16DZD 21.60
481.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9฿1,771
$6.55DZD 868
722.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.59
$0.56DZD 74.7
119.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿18.96
$0.44DZD 58.8
31.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.42฿79.7
$5.17DZD 685
-53.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41฿46.43
$0.38DZD 50.7
271.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿705.1K
$36.1KDZD 4.8M
-40.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿898.7K
$35.2KDZD 4.7M
-22.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,093
$51.6DZD 6,837
23.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85฿423
$9.01DZD 1,194
42.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22฿665
$21.32DZD 2,826
-5.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74฿1,274
$21.80DZD 2,888
77.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97฿130
$4.57DZD 606
-13.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74฿222
$6.52DZD 864
3.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778฿25.6K
$39.04DZD 5,174
1892.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿480.4K
$3,368DZD 446.3K
333.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3฿1,785
$33.77DZD 4,475
60.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45฿837
$41.86DZD 5,546
-39.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3฿3,102
$71.5DZD 9,471
31.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4฿2,415
$88.1DZD 11.7K
-16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.1K
$170DZD 22.6K
187.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289฿9,512
$123DZD 16.3K
135.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894฿29.4K
$299DZD 39.6K
199.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517฿17.0K
$210DZD 27.8K
146.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,955฿64.3K
$935DZD 123.8K
109.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477฿48.6K
$643DZD 85.2K
129.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿19.8K
$316DZD 41.9K
90.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.75
-3.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Last update for Annaba: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Chiang Mai and $170 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 91% 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 $32.00 in Annaba. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $204, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Annaba?
Average pay runs 91% 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.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Annaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Chiang Mai versus $170 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 722% 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 $778 in Chiang Mai versus $39.04 in Annaba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Annaba?
At $620 in Annaba versus $947 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Annaba but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Annaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 53% 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