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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $571 in Biskra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $919 in Biskra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,268 in Biskra, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Biskra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Biskra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Biskra 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$2.82 DZD 373

-30.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$29.03 DZD 3,844

-36.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.97 DZD 525

88.41%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.36 DZD 180

48.53%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.07 DZD 142

-20.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.33 DZD 43.99

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.91 DZD 254

12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.35 DZD 311

52.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.46 DZD 193

13.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.14 DZD 18.08

1021.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.36 DZD 180

-12.50%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.44 DZD 191

34.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.40 DZD 848

152.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.61 DZD 478

-17.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$19.28 DZD 2,553

-43.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.78 DZD 500

-28.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$3.44 DZD 456

-65.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.79 DZD 237

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.75 DZD 99.7

113.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.77 DZD 102

79.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$0.46 DZD 60.4

160.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.40 DZD 52.3

67.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.33 DZD 43.57

69.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.75 DZD 496

23.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.15 DZD 815

186.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.30 DZD 172

43.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.10 DZD 279

57.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.22 DZD 29.11

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$17.56 DZD 2,326

10.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.18 DZD 156

15.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.34 DZD 44.51

294.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.23 DZD 692

56.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.33 DZD 44.30

269.70%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$32.4K DZD 4.3M

-34.17%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$34.3K DZD 4.5M

-34.23%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$40.09 DZD 5,308

76.28%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$10.56 DZD 1,398

32.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$10.61 DZD 1,405

64.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$23.21 DZD 3,074

81.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.35 DZD 708

10.65%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$93.3 DZD 12.4K

230.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,630 DZD 480.7K

309.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$36.35 DZD 4,813

53.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$21.23 DZD 2,811

22.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$69.1 DZD 9,153

20.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$29.72 DZD 3,935

137.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$143 DZD 18.9K

202.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$109 DZD 14.4K

120.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$161 DZD 21.3K

411.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$150 DZD 19.9K

240.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,149 DZD 152.1K

66.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,112 DZD 147.2K

31.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$232 DZD 30.7K

149.80%

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 Biskra: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $143 in Biskra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 150% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Biskra. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Biskra – so Biskra wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Biskra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $856 in Biskra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Biskra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $571 in Biskra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% less in Biskra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $571 in Biskra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Biskra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Biskra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.