😐A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $560 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $928 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,297 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 70% more than Mostaganem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Mostaganem are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Mostaganem59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10฿69.3
$3.42DZD 454
-38.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84฿656
$26.72DZD 3,543
-25.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79฿191
$4.40DZD 583
31.59%
Cappuccino
$1.83฿60.4
$1.12DZD 148
63.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.61
$0.66DZD 87.9
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31฿10.37
$0.28DZD 36.64
10.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34฿77.2
$2.33DZD 310
0.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70฿122
$2.29DZD 304
61.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿67.1
$0.75DZD 99.7
170.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60฿52.7
$0.14DZD 18.56
1042.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.75
$1.16DZD 154
22.41%
Eggs
$2.18฿71.9
$1.35DZD 179
61.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91฿526
$5.31DZD 704
199.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07฿102
$4.17DZD 553
-26.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87฿326
$14.74DZD 1,954
-33.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿86.8
$2.09DZD 277
25.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10฿36.19
$2.94DZD 390
-62.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿53.8
$1.12DZD 149
45.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.6
$0.67DZD 89.3
128.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24฿41.13
$0.56DZD 73.8
121.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13฿37.37
$0.41DZD 54.1
175.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74฿24.38
$0.85DZD 113
-12.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.48
$0.28DZD 37.48
78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28฿141
$2.65DZD 352
61.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.97฿594
$7.08DZD 940
153.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70฿56.1
$1.28DZD 170
32.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿95.7
$2.04DZD 270
42.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94฿31.13
$0.25DZD 33.20
276.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3฿1,827
$6.36DZD 843
769.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.76
$0.55DZD 73.5
123.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53฿17.66
$0.49DZD 65.0
8.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40฿79.3
$2.36DZD 312
1.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44฿47.55
$0.27DZD 35.37
433.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿700.2K
$37.3KDZD 4.9M
-43.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿902.1K
$35.9KDZD 4.8M
-23.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.9฿2,145
$46.21DZD 6,128
40.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35฿441
$7.40DZD 981
80.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83฿688
$12.58DZD 1,668
65.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42฿1,336
$23.75DZD 3,149
70.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71฿222
$4.54DZD 602
47.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$787฿26.0K
$77.5DZD 10.3K
915.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿499.6K
$6,552DZD 869.0K
130.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,858
$33.75DZD 4,475
66.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95฿824
$35.96DZD 4,769
-30.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7฿3,063
$72.1DZD 9,561
28.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1฿2,482
$83.9DZD 11.1K
-10.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484฿16.0K
$160DZD 21.2K
202.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287฿9,491
$107DZD 14.2K
168.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910฿30.1K
$281DZD 37.3K
223.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531฿17.5K
$209DZD 27.7K
154.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,980฿65.4K
$1,298DZD 172.1K
52.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿47.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605฿20.0K
$241DZD 31.9K
151.63%
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 7, 2026
Last update for Mostaganem: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $160 in Mostaganem. 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 152% 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 $27.00 in Mostaganem. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Mostaganem – so Mostaganem 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 Mostaganem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Mostaganem?
Chiang Mai costs about 70% more than Mostaganem, 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 and in Mostaganem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $840 in Mostaganem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Mostaganem?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mostaganem, 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 in Mostaganem?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.5 in Mostaganem. 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 in Mostaganem?
Groceries cost about 43% 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 $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Mostaganem?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostaganem, where all-in costs run around $560, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Mostaganem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Mostaganem?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mostaganem costs $560 versus $950 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 Mostaganem?
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 to Mostaganem?
If budget matters most, go with Mostaganem. 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