😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $626 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $995 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,364 in Djemila, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 36% 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
$1.96฿64.0
$3.22DZD 426
-39.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$23.46DZD 3,109
-19.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$4.83DZD 640
63.98%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$0.98DZD 130
94.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$0.57DZD 75.7
47.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.23DZD 30.50
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.99DZD 264
11.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$2.44DZD 323
55.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.05DZD 139
56.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.17DZD 22.83
852.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.82DZD 241
-35.16%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$1.86DZD 246
8.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$8.78DZD 1,163
80.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$5.33DZD 707
-43.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$16.80DZD 2,225
-35.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$3.23DZD 428
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$2.91DZD 385
-58.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.78DZD 235
-4.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$0.87DZD 116
81.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.60DZD 79.1
120.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.50DZD 66.1
134.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.73DZD 96.2
-8.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.30DZD 39.97
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$2.78DZD 369
62.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$7.17DZD 950
153.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.29DZD 171
41.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.14DZD 284
50.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.25DZD 33.25
256.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$17.21DZD 2,280
12.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.66DZD 87.7
104.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.37DZD 48.38
264.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$5.71DZD 757
44.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$0.33DZD 44.09
284.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$35.4KDZD 4.7M
-40.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-32.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$40.25DZD 5,333
74.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$9.26DZD 1,227
48.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$17.70DZD 2,345
-0.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$23.15DZD 3,067
79.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$6.21DZD 822
-6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$94.4DZD 12.5K
224.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$3,628DZD 480.7K
308.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$36.59DZD 4,848
48.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$45.18DZD 5,986
-42.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$76.3DZD 10.1K
10.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$76.8DZD 10.2K
-9.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$193DZD 25.6K
119.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$116DZD 15.4K
105.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$271DZD 35.9K
204.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$182DZD 24.1K
182.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Djemila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Djemila: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $193 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $210 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 36% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $939 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.4 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 16% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $626 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 $626 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 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