Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and M'Sila Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and M'Sila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $485 in M'Sila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $788 in M'Sila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,092 in M'Sila, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than M'Sila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and M'Sila are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, M'Sila 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$1.93 DZD 256

7.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$19.14 DZD 2,548

2.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$3.94 DZD 525

43.91%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$0.40 DZD 53.7

352.50%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.56 DZD 74.5

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.18 DZD 24.04

94.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.29 DZD 304

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.27 DZD 303

66.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.87 DZD 115

135.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.12 DZD 15.86

1158.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.14 DZD 152

22.81%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.38 DZD 184

63.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$3.07 DZD 408

427.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$4.18 DZD 556

-30.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.31 DZD 1,240

1.18%

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 149

44.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.58 DZD 77.0

151.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.53 DZD 70.4

141.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.29 DZD 38.03

265.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.12 DZD 15.76

500.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.28 DZD 37.47

89.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.78 DZD 370

52.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.76 DZD 900

170.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.30 DZD 173

25.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.97 DZD 262

47.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.15 DZD 19.93

486.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$5.64 DZD 750

853.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.61 DZD 80.9

91.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.45 DZD 59.5

28.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.89 DZD 784

-59.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.35 DZD 46.66

314.29%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$36.4K DZD 4.8M

-42.23%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$35.3K DZD 4.7M

-25.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$24.04 DZD 3,199

164.77%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$7.95 DZD 1,059

62.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$12.51 DZD 1,665

64.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$20.85 DZD 2,775

87.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.73 DZD 630

39.11%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$118 DZD 15.7K

562.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$6,496 DZD 864.6K

125.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$32.67 DZD 4,349

68.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$35.44 DZD 4,718

-30.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$71.2 DZD 9,478

32.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$83.8 DZD 11.1K

-11.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$156 DZD 20.8K

213.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$112 DZD 14.9K

157.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$277 DZD 36.8K

222.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$212 DZD 28.2K

145.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,288 DZD 171.5K

53.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$639 DZD 85.1K

125.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$253 DZD 33.6K

138.16%

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 M'Sila: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $156 in M'Sila. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in M'Sila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $143 – making M'Sila 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 M'Sila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than M'Sila, 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 $728 in M'Sila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in M'Sila, 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 $118 in M'Sila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in M'Sila, where all-in costs run around $485, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In M'Sila 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. M'Sila costs $485 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 M'Sila. 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.