😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $620 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $995 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,371 in Djemila, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Djemila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Djemila are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Djemila53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$3.28DZD 433
-37.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$23.43DZD 3,097
-20.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$4.75DZD 628
65.47%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$1.03DZD 137
97.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$0.56DZD 74.6
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$0.21DZD 27.69
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$2.00DZD 264
7.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$2.42DZD 320
51.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.04DZD 137
66.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$0.17DZD 22.34
823.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.80DZD 238
-33.33%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$1.81DZD 240
8.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$9.24DZD 1,222
75.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$5.26DZD 695
-41.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$16.57DZD 2,191
-34.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$3.21DZD 424
-13.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$2.94DZD 388
-60.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.77DZD 235
-3.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$0.87DZD 115
82.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.59DZD 78.7
135.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$0.47DZD 62.1
146.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$0.72DZD 94.9
-8.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.28DZD 36.85
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$2.82DZD 372
64.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$6.78DZD 896
162.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.33DZD 176
34.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$2.14DZD 283
56.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$0.23DZD 30.29
295.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$17.29DZD 2,286
7.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$0.65DZD 85.8
116.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.34DZD 44.52
294.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$5.40DZD 714
50.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$0.33DZD 44.02
272.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$35.2KDZD 4.7M
-39.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-35.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$41.40DZD 5,474
72.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$9.36DZD 1,237
49.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$17.56DZD 2,321
2.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$23.49DZD 3,105
73.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$6.20DZD 820
-7.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$93.3DZD 12.3K
230.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$3,643DZD 481.7K
302.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$36.03DZD 4,764
54.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$45.56DZD 6,024
-42.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$74.4DZD 9,840
13.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$78.1DZD 10.3K
-9.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$194DZD 25.6K
118.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$115DZD 15.2K
111.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$272DZD 36.0K
193.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$181DZD 23.9K
180.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$1,229DZD 162.5K
56.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$1,194DZD 157.9K
22.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
-
-
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 27, 2026
Last update for Djemila: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $194 in Djemila. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Djemila. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $209 in Djemila – so Djemila 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 Djemila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Djemila?
Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Djemila, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Djemila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $930 in Djemila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Djemila?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Djemila, 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 Djemila?
Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.3 in Djemila. 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 Djemila?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 in Djemila?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $620 in Djemila, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Djemila?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Djemila costs $620 versus $852 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 Djemila?
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 Djemila?
If budget matters most, go with Djemila. 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