😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $618 in Boumerdes, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $942 in Boumerdes, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,266 in Boumerdes, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Boumerdes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Boumerdes are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Boumerdes54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿65.8
$3.17DZD 421
-38.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35฿617
$23.43DZD 3,105
-21.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48฿252
$3.63DZD 482
106.06%
Cappuccino
$2.02฿67.8
$0.52DZD 69.5
288.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿28.50
$0.57DZD 75.8
49.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.96
$0.21DZD 27.76
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.8
$1.94DZD 257
10.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59฿121
$2.34DZD 310
53.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.95DZD 126
73.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.7
$0.13DZD 17.34
1107.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿40.02
$1.74DZD 231
-31.61%
Eggs
$1.94฿65.1
$1.41DZD 187
37.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿544
$9.17DZD 1,215
76.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99฿101
$5.31DZD 703
-43.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿368
$16.61DZD 2,201
-34.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71฿91.2
$3.22DZD 427
-15.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.25
$2.94DZD 390
-60.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69฿56.7
$1.73DZD 229
-2.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$0.50DZD 66.2
220.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿46.54
$0.49DZD 65.6
181.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20฿40.45
$0.46DZD 61.4
160.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿22.50
$0.72DZD 95.2
-6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.73
$0.29DZD 38.54
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿156
$2.76DZD 365
68.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.62฿593
$6.86DZD 909
156.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.5
$1.31DZD 173
41.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿111
$2.17DZD 288
52.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.68
$0.31DZD 41.63
183.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.34฿650
$17.31DZD 2,294
11.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿45.90
$0.67DZD 88.2
102.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.98
$0.34DZD 44.99
294.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21฿276
$5.71DZD 757
43.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22฿41.18
$0.33DZD 44.36
269.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿718.1K
$14.2KDZD 1.9M
50.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿757.7K
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-33.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7฿2,376
$40.58DZD 5,377
74.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04฿472
$9.21DZD 1,221
52.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49฿588
$11.80DZD 1,564
48.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.15฿1,417
$23.39DZD 3,100
80.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿231
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿199
$2.04DZD 271
190.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$95.8DZD 12.7K
221.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K฿500.4K
$3,647DZD 483.3K
307.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,875
$11.84DZD 1,568
370.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11฿878
$45.46DZD 6,025
-42.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0฿2,792
$76.2DZD 10.1K
8.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,369
$76.4DZD 10.1K
-7.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432฿14.5K
$197DZD 26.0K
119.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿8,035
$142DZD 18.8K
68.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822฿27.7K
$239DZD 31.7K
243.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512฿17.2K
$168DZD 22.3K
204.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,915฿64.4K
$1,124DZD 149.0K
70.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467฿49.3K
$1,125DZD 149.0K
30.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Boumerdes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579฿19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
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 Boumerdes: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $197 in Boumerdes. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Boumerdes. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Boumerdes – so Boumerdes 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 Boumerdes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boumerdes cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $927 in Boumerdes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boumerdes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Boumerdes?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Boumerdes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $23.00 in Boumerdes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Chiang Mai or Boumerdes?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $618 in Boumerdes, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Chiang Mai or Boumerdes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Boumerdes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Boumerdes?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Boumerdes. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared