😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $759 in Constantine, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,180 in Constantine, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,601 in Constantine, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Constantine, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Constantine are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Constantine43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$4.05DZD 537
-52.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$23.76DZD 3,153
-21.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$4.70DZD 623
66.38%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$0.69DZD 91.7
182.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$0.48DZD 63.1
77.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$0.23DZD 30.45
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$4.14DZD 549
-48.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$2.41DZD 320
54.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.04DZD 139
64.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$0.14DZD 18.58
1064.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$1.52DZD 202
-25.00%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
$1.94DZD 257
-0.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$13.72DZD 1,821
18.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$5.93DZD 788
-47.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$16.47DZD 2,185
-33.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$3.21DZD 427
-14.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$3.63DZD 482
-66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$2.40DZD 318
-32.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$0.72DZD 95.0
120.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$0.62DZD 81.8
125.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$0.54DZD 71.8
116.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$0.54DZD 71.3
22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$0.33DZD 44.18
60.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$3.01DZD 400
55.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$3.40DZD 452
448.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.62DZD 216
11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
$0.31DZD 40.53
190.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$23.29DZD 3,091
-17.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$0.82DZD 109
71.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$0.38DZD 51.0
239.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$4.40DZD 583
78.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.62
$0.37DZD 49.57
243.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿695.5K
$41.5KDZD 5.5M
-48.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
$38.3KDZD 5.1M
-42.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$131DZD 17.3K
-47.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$19.46DZD 2,583
-27.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$37.79DZD 5,015
-52.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
$21.70DZD 2,880
89.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$2.31DZD 307
156.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$86.0DZD 11.4K
247.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$2,261DZD 300.1K
561.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$61.6DZD 8,177
-11.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
$64.9DZD 8,611
-58.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$96.4DZD 12.8K
-11.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$92.3DZD 12.3K
-23.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$161DZD 21.3K
166.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
$71.1DZD 9,431
234.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$238DZD 31.6K
236.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
$154DZD 20.4K
235.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$932DZD 123.6K
111.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$626DZD 83.1K
135.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Constantine
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$397DZD 52.7K
55.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Constantine: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $161 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 56% 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 $24.00 in Constantine. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $221 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 14% more than Constantine, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 vs Constantine?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,138 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 Constantine?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $86.0 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 Constantine?
Groceries cost about 11% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or Constantine?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $759 in Constantine, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Constantine?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Constantine costs $759 versus $866 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 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