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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $583 in Biskra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $936 in Biskra, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,289 in Biskra, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Biskra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Biskra are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Biskra 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$2.91 DZD 387

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$28.97 DZD 3,845

-35.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.88 DZD 516

101.55%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.36 DZD 181

43.38%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.10 DZD 147

-22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.33 DZD 44.24

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$1.93 DZD 256

10.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.41 DZD 320

54.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.43 DZD 190

19.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.18 DZD 24.12

805.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.40 DZD 186

-18.57%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.46 DZD 194

32.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.26 DZD 830

158.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.49 DZD 463

-10.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$19.57 DZD 2,598

-44.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.69 DZD 490

-25.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$3.33 DZD 441

-63.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.80 DZD 238

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.78 DZD 103

103.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.76 DZD 101

84.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.50 DZD 66.1

134.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.39 DZD 51.9

69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.36 DZD 47.26

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.90 DZD 518

20.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$7.95 DZD 1,055

134.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.36 DZD 180

32.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.06 DZD 274

56.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.22 DZD 29.05

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$17.61 DZD 2,338

9.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.15 DZD 153

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.36 DZD 48.07

258.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.20 DZD 690

50.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$0.37 DZD 48.47

243.24%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$32.6K DZD 4.3M

-34.66%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$33.1K DZD 4.4M

-32.95%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$40.62 DZD 5,391

70.04%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.48 DZD 1,391

34.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$10.49 DZD 1,393

71.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$23.20 DZD 3,079

76.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.45 DZD 723

8.62%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$93.9 DZD 12.5K

218.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$3,601 DZD 477.9K

315.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$36.65 DZD 4,864

49.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$21.72 DZD 2,883

23.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$71.1 DZD 9,429

19.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$28.82 DZD 3,824

144.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$143 DZD 19.0K

198.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$107 DZD 14.2K

121.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$161 DZD 21.3K

399.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$150 DZD 20.0K

242.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,117 DZD 148.3K

76.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,141 DZD 151.5K

29.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$236 DZD 31.3K

161.43%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Biskra: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 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 161% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Biskra. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $208 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 49%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $875 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $583 in Biskra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 9% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $583 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.