😐A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $615 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $982 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,349 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, Djemila54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿63.6
$3.22DZD 426
-39.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿598
$23.72DZD 3,146
-22.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿256
$4.69DZD 621
67.80%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.4
$1.03DZD 137
89.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.57
$0.57DZD 75.5
49.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.52
$0.21DZD 27.76
52.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿69.6
$1.98DZD 262
8.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿120
$2.36DZD 313
55.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿53.9
$1.04DZD 138
59.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.7
$0.16DZD 21.16
875.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.63
$1.81DZD 241
-34.25%
Eggs
$1.99฿64.7
$1.80DZD 238
10.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿528
$8.92DZD 1,183
82.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿103
$5.34DZD 708
-40.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿352
$16.56DZD 2,196
-34.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿86.2
$3.09DZD 410
-14.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.67
$2.81DZD 372
-56.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.7
$1.72DZD 228
-4.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.3
$0.90DZD 120
72.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.17
$0.59DZD 78.1
125.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.43
$0.49DZD 65.1
146.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.04
$0.68DZD 90.7
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.38
$0.30DZD 40.23
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿152
$2.77DZD 367
68.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿552
$7.04DZD 934
141.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.3
$1.30DZD 173
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿103
$2.08DZD 276
52.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.46
$0.25DZD 33.29
264.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿609
$17.21DZD 2,282
8.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.80
$0.65DZD 86.4
116.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.52
$0.36DZD 47.83
272.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿265
$5.54DZD 734
46.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.53
$0.36DZD 48.20
255.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿709.3K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-39.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿728.0K
$34.3KDZD 4.5M
-34.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,291
$40.15DZD 5,324
75.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿457
$9.27DZD 1,229
51.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿574
$18.12DZD 2,403
-2.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,342
$23.25DZD 3,084
77.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿194
$6.25DZD 829
-4.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,846
$93.2DZD 12.4K
224.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿486.2K
$3,617DZD 479.6K
313.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,778
$36.78DZD 4,877
48.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿854
$44.88DZD 5,952
-41.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,788
$73.9DZD 9,798
16.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,265
$77.8DZD 10.3K
-10.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿13.9K
$195DZD 25.9K
119.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,769
$115DZD 15.2K
108.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.4K
$272DZD 36.1K
197.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.6K
$185DZD 24.5K
175.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿65.8K
$1,070DZD 141.9K
89.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿48.8K
$988DZD 131.1K
51.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.2K
-
-
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Djemila: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $195 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Djemila. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $207 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 vs Djemila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $922 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 Djemila?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $93.2 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 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 Djemila?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $615 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 $615 versus $848 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 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