😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $626 in Constantine, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,030 in Constantine, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,433 in Constantine, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Constantine, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Constantine are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Constantine54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$3.05DZD 408
-31.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$22.68DZD 3,030
-13.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$4.14DZD 554
36.96%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$0.66DZD 87.6
174.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$0.55DZD 73.3
40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.23DZD 30.80
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$5.99DZD 800
-63.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$1.88DZD 251
101.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$1.02DZD 136
100.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.18DZD 23.52
738.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$1.84DZD 246
-23.91%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$1.80DZD 241
25.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$12.93DZD 1,727
25.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$4.39DZD 586
-33.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$15.66DZD 2,092
-39.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$3.42DZD 457
-21.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$3.37DZD 450
-67.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$1.50DZD 200
8.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$0.92DZD 123
58.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.61DZD 81.7
109.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$0.65DZD 87.1
63.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.73DZD 97.5
-1.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.37DZD 48.94
43.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$3.47DZD 463
21.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$3.57DZD 477
412.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.13DZD 151
44.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$1.19DZD 159
143.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$0.34DZD 45.19
158.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$6.89DZD 920
680.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$1.19DZD 160
-1.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.20DZD 26.84
190.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$4.53DZD 605
-47.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$0.36DZD 47.46
302.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$36.1KDZD 4.8M
-41.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$39.7KDZD 5.3M
-33.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$38.02DZD 5,079
67.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$9.10DZD 1,215
41.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$18.07DZD 2,414
13.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$37.94DZD 5,068
2.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$4.54DZD 607
44.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$86.1DZD 11.5K
810.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$2,546DZD 340.1K
476.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$55.8DZD 7,457
-1.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$40.56DZD 5,419
-39.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$82.5DZD 11.0K
14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$89.3DZD 11.9K
-17.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$148DZD 19.7K
232.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$96.3DZD 12.9K
199.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$280DZD 37.4K
217.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$211DZD 28.2K
146.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$955DZD 127.5K
106.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$626DZD 83.6K
130.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$399DZD 53.3K
50.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.5
23.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Constantine: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $148 in Constantine. 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 51% 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 $23.00 in Constantine. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $208 in Constantine – so Constantine 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 Constantine: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Constantine?
Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Constantine, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Constantine?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $940 in Constantine. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Constantine?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Constantine, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Constantine?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $86.1 in Constantine. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Constantine?
Groceries cost about 16% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Constantine?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Constantine, where all-in costs run around $626, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Constantine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Constantine?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Constantine costs $626 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Constantine?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Constantine?
If budget matters most, go with Constantine. 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