😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $569 in Jijel, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $911 in Jijel, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,254 in Jijel, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Jijel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Jijel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Jijel58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$2.55DZD 338
-22.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$23.61DZD 3,129
-20.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$4.81DZD 638
61.12%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$0.99DZD 131
93.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.57DZD 75.5
38.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.21DZD 27.73
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.94DZD 257
13.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.33DZD 309
57.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$0.95DZD 126
73.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.13DZD 17.57
1153.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.37DZD 182
-13.14%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.86DZD 247
7.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$8.75DZD 1,160
82.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$4.47DZD 593
-32.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$12.52DZD 1,660
-13.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$3.15DZD 418
-12.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.88DZD 381
-59.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.41DZD 187
16.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$0.74DZD 98.7
105.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.59DZD 77.8
133.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.39DZD 51.1
205.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.40DZD 52.5
75.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.30DZD 40.17
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$2.46DZD 326
86.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$6.91DZD 916
139.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$1.35DZD 179
35.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$2.08DZD 276
53.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.22DZD 28.97
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$17.75DZD 2,352
5.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$0.66DZD 87.9
106.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.22DZD 29.21
509.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$5.64DZD 748
39.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$0.36DZD 48.37
241.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$36.5KDZD 4.8M
-40.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$34.1KDZD 4.5M
-33.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$39.87DZD 5,284
76.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$6.83DZD 905
100.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$18.07DZD 2,396
-3.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$17.65DZD 2,339
134.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$6.15DZD 815
-6.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$87.0DZD 11.5K
253.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$1,413DZD 187.2K
934.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$36.21DZD 4,800
54.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$33.66DZD 4,461
-22.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$63.7DZD 8,446
34.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$68.1DZD 9,031
6.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$200DZD 26.5K
114.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$126DZD 16.6K
90.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$271DZD 35.9K
202.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$186DZD 24.7K
174.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$786DZD 104.1K
152.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$420DZD 55.7K
253.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$260DZD 34.5K
137.92%
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 7, 2026
Last update for Jijel: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $200 in Jijel. 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 138% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Jijel. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $185 in Jijel – so Jijel 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 Jijel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Jijel?
Chiang Mai costs about 53% more than Jijel, 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 Jijel?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $853 in Jijel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Jijel?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jijel, 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 Jijel?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $87.0 in Jijel. 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 Jijel?
Groceries cost about 30% 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 Jijel?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $569 in Jijel, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Jijel?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jijel costs $569 versus $869 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 Jijel?
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 Jijel?
If budget matters most, go with Jijel. 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