😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $953 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,309 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Mostaganem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Mostaganem are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Mostaganem56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$3.24DZD 429
-38.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$23.58DZD 3,125
-20.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$3.94DZD 522
96.70%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$1.02DZD 136
88.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.61DZD 81.4
29.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.23DZD 30.54
56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.90DZD 252
16.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.43DZD 322
50.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$0.80DZD 107
106.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.14DZD 18.01
1064.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.36DZD 180
-12.50%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.86DZD 247
7.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$6.08DZD 806
162.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$4.11DZD 544
-26.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$16.38DZD 2,171
-33.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$3.17DZD 420
-12.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.97DZD 394
-60.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.55DZD 206
5.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$0.58DZD 77.4
162.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.60DZD 79.2
130.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.46DZD 60.5
158.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.68DZD 90.1
2.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.28DZD 36.92
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$2.66DZD 352
72.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$6.84DZD 907
142.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$1.28DZD 170
42.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$2.18DZD 288
46.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.19DZD 25.52
363.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$17.56DZD 2,327
6.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$0.27DZD 35.93
403.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.34DZD 44.66
294.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$5.65DZD 749
38.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$0.30DZD 39.54
310.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$36.6KDZD 4.8M
-40.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$33.7KDZD 4.5M
-33.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$40.26DZD 5,336
75.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$8.05DZD 1,067
69.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$16.92DZD 2,243
3.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$22.95DZD 3,042
80.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$6.06DZD 804
-4.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$95.3DZD 12.6K
222.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$3,641DZD 482.6K
301.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$36.13DZD 4,788
54.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$45.45DZD 6,024
-42.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$75.8DZD 10.0K
13.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$75.7DZD 10.0K
-4.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$195DZD 25.8K
120.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$115DZD 15.3K
106.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$275DZD 36.5K
196.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$186DZD 24.7K
174.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$1,142DZD 151.3K
73.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$1,179DZD 156.3K
25.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$234DZD 31.0K
164.95%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mostaganem: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 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.
💰Salaries run about 165% 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 – $241 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 45% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $896 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 Mostaganem?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $95.3 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 29% 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 – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $597 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 $597 versus $869 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 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