😐A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $595 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $947 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,299 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Mostaganem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Mostaganem are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Mostaganem55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.4
$3.26DZD 431
-37.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿626
$24.09DZD 3,188
-22.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿263
$3.89DZD 514
102.06%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.9
$0.98DZD 130
107.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.71
$0.58DZD 76.3
37.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.71
$0.21DZD 27.78
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.7
$1.93DZD 255
10.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿123
$2.42DZD 320
51.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.8
$0.82DZD 108
110.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.5
$0.13DZD 17.84
1107.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿40.10
$1.30DZD 172
-7.69%
Eggs
$1.97฿66.0
$1.87DZD 248
5.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿543
$5.90DZD 780
175.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$4.30DZD 569
-28.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿361
$16.32DZD 2,160
-33.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.6
$3.17DZD 419
-12.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿39.05
$2.91DZD 386
-59.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.1
$1.60DZD 212
6.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.3
$0.59DZD 77.6
169.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.63
$0.60DZD 79.4
131.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.67
$0.46DZD 61.4
152.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.11
$0.68DZD 90.6
-2.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.35
$0.28DZD 36.91
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$2.64DZD 349
76.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿595
$6.78DZD 898
162.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.8
$1.34DZD 177
33.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿112
$2.08DZD 275
60.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.35
$0.15DZD 20.49
506.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿624
$17.12DZD 2,266
8.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.17
$0.25DZD 32.69
464.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.82
$0.34DZD 44.91
294.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿271
$5.70DZD 754
42.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.27
$0.30DZD 39.32
310.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿717.0K
$35.2KDZD 4.7M
-39.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿730.0K
$33.2KDZD 4.4M
-34.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,386
$40.57DZD 5,370
75.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿469
$7.88DZD 1,043
77.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿600
$16.58DZD 2,194
8.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,365
$23.36DZD 3,091
74.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$6.21DZD 822
-7.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$92.8DZD 12.3K
232.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿491.0K
$3,528DZD 467.0K
316.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,865
$37.04DZD 4,902
50.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿871
$46.36DZD 6,136
-43.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,837
$74.3DZD 9,839
14.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,375
$76.0DZD 10.1K
-6.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.2K
$194DZD 25.6K
118.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,110
$115DZD 15.2K
111.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.7K
$279DZD 36.9K
185.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿17.0K
$181DZD 24.0K
179.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.2K
$1,150DZD 152.2K
66.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿49.0K
$993DZD 131.4K
47.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$236DZD 31.2K
152.04%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mostaganem: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $194 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Mostaganem. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $186 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 43% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $892 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $92.8 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 31% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or in Mostaganem?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $595 in Mostaganem, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Mostaganem?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mostaganem costs $595 versus $852 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