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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $553 in Guelma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $881 in Guelma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,208 in Guelma, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 69% more than Guelma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Guelma are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Guelma 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$3.19 DZD 425

-34.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$17.03 DZD 2,266

15.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.08 DZD 544

38.97%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$0.74 DZD 98.9

144.59%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.66 DZD 88.0

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.30 DZD 40.29

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.53 DZD 204

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.12 DZD 283

78.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.91 DZD 121

125.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.14 DZD 19.07

978.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.15 DZD 153

21.74%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.39 DZD 185

62.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.22 DZD 1,094

96.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.05 DZD 539

-28.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.66 DZD 1,952

-35.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.19 DZD 291

22.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$2.84 DZD 377

-61.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.12 DZD 148

44.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.93 DZD 124

56.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.65 DZD 86.2

96.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.51 DZD 68.0

107.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.71 DZD 94.5

1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.26 DZD 34.53

103.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.75 DZD 366

53.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.90 DZD 918

165.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.13 DZD 151

44.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.94 DZD 259

49.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.17 DZD 22.74

417.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$6.02 DZD 802

793.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.59 DZD 78.6

98.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.42 DZD 56.1

38.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.04 DZD 671

-52.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.36 DZD 48.39

302.78%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$36.3K DZD 4.8M

-42.09%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$35.7K DZD 4.8M

-26.00%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$38.32 DZD 5,100

66.10%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.03 DZD 1,202

42.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$12.46 DZD 1,658

64.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$20.91 DZD 2,783

86.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.58 DZD 609

43.67%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$100 DZD 13.3K

682.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$3,647 DZD 485.5K

302.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$32.92 DZD 4,382

67.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$35.23 DZD 4,689

-29.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$70.1 DZD 9,325

34.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$76.3 DZD 10.2K

-3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$158 DZD 21.1K

209.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$106 DZD 14.1K

171.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$283 DZD 37.7K

214.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$210 DZD 28.0K

148.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,275 DZD 169.7K

54.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$387 DZD 51.5K

273.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$314 DZD 41.7K

91.87%

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 Guelma: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $158 in Guelma. 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 92% 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 $17.00 in Guelma. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $179 – making Guelma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Guelma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 69% more than Guelma, 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 $829 in Guelma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guelma, 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 $100 in Guelma. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 Guelma, where all-in costs run around $553, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Guelma 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. Guelma costs $553 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 Guelma. 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.