😐A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $568 in Jijel, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $912 in Jijel, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,255 in Jijel, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Jijel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Jijel are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai37% lower, Jijel58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95฿62.8
$2.48DZD 328
-21.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43฿594
$23.24DZD 3,076
-20.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50฿241
$4.58DZD 606
63.76%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿62.3
$0.98DZD 130
96.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.08
$0.60DZD 79.5
30.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.42
$0.23DZD 30.46
39.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15฿69.2
$1.93DZD 256
11.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿120
$2.42DZD 320
53.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿55.2
$0.90DZD 119
90.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.3
$0.14DZD 18.06
1014.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.06
$1.42DZD 187
-16.90%
Eggs
$1.98฿63.9
$1.79DZD 237
10.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04฿517
$8.84DZD 1,170
81.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿102
$4.40DZD 583
-27.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿353
$12.38DZD 1,638
-11.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿84.7
$3.16DZD 418
-16.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿37.61
$2.86DZD 379
-59.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.0
$1.42DZD 188
16.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54฿49.51
$0.70DZD 92.5
120.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿44.34
$0.57DZD 75.9
142.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿37.54
$0.35DZD 46.88
234.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.25
$0.42DZD 55.9
57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.55
$0.30DZD 39.88
70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52฿146
$2.49DZD 330
81.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿590
$7.14DZD 945
156.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿57.9
$1.35DZD 179
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿102
$2.15DZD 285
47.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿28.97
$0.22DZD 28.99
309.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00฿612
$17.34DZD 2,294
9.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.50
$0.70DZD 92.9
101.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31฿42.15
$0.20DZD 26.45
555.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09฿261
$5.60DZD 741
44.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.08
$0.36DZD 47.84
255.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿686.1K
$36.3KDZD 4.8M
-41.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿699.3K
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-35.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2฿2,230
$39.82DZD 5,269
73.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97฿450
$7.04DZD 932
98.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95฿578
$18.01DZD 2,384
-0.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31฿1,363
$17.32DZD 2,292
144.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66฿214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿191
$6.13DZD 811
-3.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,640
$87.1DZD 11.5K
243.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿478.4K
$1,411DZD 186.7K
952.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,810
$36.79DZD 4,868
52.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94฿868
$34.24DZD 4,531
-21.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9฿2,735
$63.8DZD 8,442
33.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8฿2,314
$67.6DZD 8,947
6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435฿14.0K
$202DZD 26.7K
115.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240฿7,727
$125DZD 16.5K
91.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798฿25.7K
$274DZD 36.2K
191.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498฿16.1K
$184DZD 24.4K
170.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995฿64.3K
$804DZD 106.4K
148.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532฿49.4K
$424DZD 56.1K
261.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628฿20.2K
$259DZD 34.3K
142.11%
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 20, 2026
Last update for Jijel: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $202 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 142% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $23 in Jijel. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $184 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 49% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $852 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $87.1 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 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 Jijel?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $568 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 $568 versus $845 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