Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Djelfa Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Djelfa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $500 in Djelfa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $791 in Djelfa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,081 in Djelfa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 86% more than Djelfa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Djelfa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Djelfa 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.44 DZD 459

-39.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$20.38 DZD 2,722

-3.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.52 DZD 604

25.44%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$0.75 DZD 100

141.33%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.55 DZD 73.2

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.25 DZD 33.30

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.26 DZD 302

-2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.29 DZD 306

65.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.93 DZD 124

120.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.13 DZD 17.06

1061.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.14 DZD 152

22.81%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.35 DZD 180

67.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$4.59 DZD 613

252.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.46 DZD 463

-16.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.32 DZD 1,512

-16.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.16 DZD 289

24.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.79 DZD 373

-60.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.07 DZD 142

51.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.58 DZD 77.9

151.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.55 DZD 74.1

132.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.46 DZD 61.3

130.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.39 DZD 52.2

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.26 DZD 34.64

103.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.81 DZD 376

50.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.11 DZD 950

157.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.31 DZD 175

24.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.01 DZD 269

44.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.16 DZD 21.24

450.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$7.15 DZD 955

652.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.59 DZD 79.5

98.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.46 DZD 61.1

26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$3.94 DZD 526

-39.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.37 DZD 49.01

291.89%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$36.5K DZD 4.9M

-42.39%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$35.4K DZD 4.7M

-25.37%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$45.91 DZD 6,133

38.64%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$10.82 DZD 1,446

19.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.95 DZD 1,730

58.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$15.78 DZD 2,108

147.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.73 DZD 632

39.11%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$119 DZD 15.9K

558.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,500 DZD 868.2K

125.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$28.96 DZD 3,869

90.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$35.58 DZD 4,753

-30.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$65.9 DZD 8,801

42.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$81.6 DZD 10.9K

-9.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$137 DZD 18.3K

258.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$77.1 DZD 10.3K

273.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$200 DZD 26.8K

344.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$112 DZD 15.0K

364.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,303 DZD 174.1K

51.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$292 DZD 39.0K

394.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$263 DZD 35.2K

128.61%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Djelfa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $137 in Djelfa. 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 129% 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 $20.00 in Djelfa. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $152 in Djelfa – so Djelfa 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 Djelfa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 86% more than Djelfa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $750 in Djelfa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Djelfa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $119 in Djelfa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Djelfa, where all-in costs run around $500, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Djelfa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Djelfa costs $500 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Djelfa. 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.