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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $546 in Biskra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $889 in Biskra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,231 in Biskra, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 74% more than Biskra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Biskra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Biskra 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$2.88 DZD 382

-27.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$29.26 DZD 3,877

-32.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$4.18 DZD 554

35.17%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.36 DZD 180

33.09%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.12 DZD 148

-36.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.34 DZD 44.41

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.63 DZD 216

37.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.45 DZD 325

48.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.46 DZD 193

34.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.17 DZD 22.72

782.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.40 DZD 185

-4.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.44 DZD 191

56.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$6.62 DZD 877

145.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.45 DZD 457

-14.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$19.41 DZD 2,572

-48.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.63 DZD 481

-29.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$3.33 DZD 441

-68.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.89 DZD 251

-14.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.76 DZD 101

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.76 DZD 100

67.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.48 DZD 63.4

122.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.40 DZD 52.7

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.35 DZD 46.63

45.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.71 DZD 492

12.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.60 DZD 1,007

135.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.27 DZD 168

33.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.10 DZD 278

35.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.22 DZD 29.10

322.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$6.21 DZD 823

767.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.19 DZD 157

3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.39 DZD 51.7

48.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.14 DZD 681

-52.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.37 DZD 48.92

281.08%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$36.7K DZD 4.9M

-41.50%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$35.6K DZD 4.7M

-23.15%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$38.43 DZD 5,093

65.68%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$9.10 DZD 1,206

41.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$14.56 DZD 1,929

38.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$21.30 DZD 2,822

81.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$4.57 DZD 606

47.48%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$102 DZD 13.5K

661.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$3,358 DZD 445.0K

335.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$33.39 DZD 4,424

62.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$21.80 DZD 2,889

16.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$71.2 DZD 9,435

32.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$29.02 DZD 3,845

153.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$142 DZD 18.8K

245.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$109 DZD 14.5K

164.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$160 DZD 21.2K

459.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$151 DZD 20.0K

242.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,318 DZD 174.6K

48.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$290 DZD 38.4K

409.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$236 DZD 31.3K

154.76%

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 Biskra: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $142 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 155% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Biskra. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $207 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 74%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $819 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 $947 in Chiang Mai and $546 in Biskra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 767% less in Biskra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Biskra, where all-in costs run around $546, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Biskra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.