đA single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $585 in Mostaganem, rent included.
đA couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $936 in Mostaganem, rent included.
đA family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,288 in Mostaganem, rent included.
đChiang Mai costs about 44% more than Mostaganem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
đBoth Chiang Mai and Mostaganem are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai37% lower, Mostaganem56% lower.
Currency
đ˝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95฿62.8
$3.13DZDÂ 414
-37.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43฿594
$23.87DZDÂ 3,159
-22.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50฿241
$3.89DZDÂ 515
92.80%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿62.3
$0.99DZDÂ 131
94.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.08
$0.57DZDÂ 75.7
36.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.42
$0.23DZDÂ 30.51
39.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15฿69.2
$1.98DZDÂ 262
8.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿120
$2.40DZDÂ 318
54.58%
đ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿55.2
$0.83DZDÂ 109
106.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.3
$0.15DZDÂ 19.29
940.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.06
$1.31DZDÂ 173
-9.92%
Eggs
$1.98฿63.9
$1.81DZDÂ 240
9.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04฿517
$5.93DZDÂ 784
170.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿102
$4.10DZDÂ 543
-22.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿353
$16.50DZDÂ 2,183
-33.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿84.7
$3.19DZDÂ 422
-17.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿37.61
$2.86DZDÂ 379
-59.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.0
$1.54DZDÂ 204
7.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54฿49.51
$0.57DZDÂ 76.0
170.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿44.34
$0.60DZDÂ 78.9
130.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿37.54
$0.47DZDÂ 62.1
148.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.25
$0.73DZDÂ 96.3
-9.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.55
$0.28DZDÂ 36.73
82.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52฿146
$2.54DZDÂ 337
77.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿590
$7.14DZDÂ 945
156.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿57.9
$1.35DZDÂ 179
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿102
$2.15DZDÂ 285
47.91%
đ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿28.97
$0.16DZDÂ 20.73
462.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00฿612
$17.50DZDÂ 2,316
8.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.50
$0.27DZDÂ 36.03
422.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31฿42.15
$0.36DZDÂ 47.80
263.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09฿261
$5.52DZDÂ 730
46.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.08
$0.30DZDÂ 39.23
326.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿686.1K
$36.4KDZDÂ 4.8M
-41.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿699.3K
$33.4KDZDÂ 4.4M
-35.02%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2฿2,230
$40.24DZDÂ 5,325
71.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97฿450
$7.77DZDÂ 1,028
79.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95฿578
$17.10DZDÂ 2,263
4.97%
đ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31฿1,363
$23.47DZDÂ 3,105
80.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66฿214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿191
$6.07DZDÂ 803
-2.47%
𧸠Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,640
$95.2DZDÂ 12.6K
214.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿478.4K
$3,629DZDÂ 480.2K
309.20%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,810
$36.64DZDÂ 4,849
53.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94฿868
$44.92DZDÂ 5,945
-40.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9฿2,735
$74.8DZDÂ 9,893
13.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8฿2,314
$75.7DZDÂ 10.0K
-5.09%
đ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435฿14.0K
$195DZDÂ 25.7K
123.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240฿7,727
$114DZDÂ 15.1K
110.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798฿25.7K
$273DZDÂ 36.1K
192.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498฿16.1K
$186DZDÂ 24.6K
168.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995฿64.3K
$940DZDÂ 124.4K
112.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532฿49.4K
-
-
đľ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628฿20.2K
$239DZDÂ 31.6K
163.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.42
-7.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mostaganem: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
đ A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $195 in Mostaganem. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
đ°Salaries run about 163% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
đA mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $24 in Mostaganem. Groceries tell a different story â $244 in Chiang Mai vs $186 in Mostaganem â 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 44% 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 vs Mostaganem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $877 in Mostaganem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 Mostaganem?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $95.2 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 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 Mostaganem?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $585 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 $585 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 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or 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