😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $563 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $939 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,316 in Djemila, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Djemila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Djemila are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Djemila59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.2
$3.43DZD 457
-39.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿652
$28.56DZD 3,810
-31.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$4.34DZD 579
30.65%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.0
$1.11DZD 149
63.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.55
$0.66DZD 87.9
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.48
$0.28DZD 37.22
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.6
$2.29DZD 305
-3.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿126
$2.36DZD 315
60.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.1
$0.86DZD 115
138.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.4
$0.16DZD 22.00
843.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.51
$1.19DZD 159
17.65%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.1
$1.35DZD 179
67.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿538
$8.30DZD 1,108
95.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.3
$4.12DZD 550
-29.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿313
$14.67DZD 1,956
-35.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.1
$2.18DZD 290
22.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.23
$2.78DZD 371
-60.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.8
$1.10DZD 147
47.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.55
$0.99DZD 132
47.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.48
$0.63DZD 84.3
103.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.17
$0.48DZD 63.4
120.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.85
$0.82DZD 110
-12.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.49
$0.26DZD 34.54
103.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$3.17DZD 423
33.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿608
$7.10DZD 947
157.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.2
$1.25DZD 167
30.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.5
$2.00DZD 267
45.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.20
$0.19DZD 24.73
363.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,788
$6.49DZD 865
728.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿38.99
$0.59DZD 78.7
98.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.22
$0.45DZD 60.3
28.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.3
$5.70DZD 760
-58.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.22
$0.36DZD 48.48
302.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿698.6K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-41.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿878.6K
$34.9KDZD 4.7M
-24.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,116
$45.94DZD 6,127
38.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿429
$10.70DZD 1,428
20.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿682
$12.89DZD 1,719
59.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,297
$22.52DZD 3,004
73.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿219
$4.74DZD 632
38.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.1K
$102DZD 13.5K
672.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿487.9K
$6,648DZD 886.6K
120.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,833
$32.79DZD 4,373
68.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿823
$36.35DZD 4,848
-31.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,130
$70.4DZD 9,388
33.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,459
$81.8DZD 10.9K
-9.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.3K
$172DZD 22.9K
185.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,582
$103DZD 13.8K
179.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.6K
$252DZD 33.6K
253.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.3K
$234DZD 31.1K
123.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.6K
$1,202DZD 160.4K
64.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
-
-
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 Djemila: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $172 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Djemila. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $181 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 66% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $844 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $102 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 33% 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 Djemila?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Djemila, where all-in costs run around $563, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Djemila 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 Djemila?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Djemila costs $563 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 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