Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mostaganem Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mostaganem

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Mai 31% lower, Mostaganem 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$3.42 DZD 454
-38.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$26.72 DZD 3,543
-25.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$4.40 DZD 583
31.59%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$1.12 DZD 148
63.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$0.66 DZD 87.9
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.28 DZD 36.64
10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$2.33 DZD 310
0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$2.29 DZD 304
61.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$0.75 DZD 99.7
170.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$0.14 DZD 18.56
1042.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$1.16 DZD 154
22.41%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$1.35 DZD 179
61.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$5.31 DZD 704
199.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$4.17 DZD 553
-26.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$14.74 DZD 1,954
-33.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$2.09 DZD 277
25.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$2.94 DZD 390
-62.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$1.12 DZD 149
45.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$0.67 DZD 89.3
128.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$0.56 DZD 73.8
121.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.41 DZD 54.1
175.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.85 DZD 113
-12.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.28 DZD 37.48
78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$2.65 DZD 352
61.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$7.08 DZD 940
153.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.28 DZD 170
32.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$2.04 DZD 270
42.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
$0.25 DZD 33.20
276.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
$6.36 DZD 843
769.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$0.55 DZD 73.5
123.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$0.49 DZD 65.0
8.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$2.36 DZD 312
1.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$0.27 DZD 35.37
433.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$37.3K DZD 4.9M
-43.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$35.9K DZD 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
$46.21 DZD 6,128
40.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$7.40 DZD 981
80.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$12.58 DZD 1,668
65.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$23.75 DZD 3,149
70.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$4.54 DZD 602
47.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$77.5 DZD 10.3K
915.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$6,552 DZD 869.0K
130.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$33.75 DZD 4,475
66.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$35.96 DZD 4,769
-30.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$72.1 DZD 9,561
28.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$83.9 DZD 11.1K
-10.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$160 DZD 21.2K
202.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$107 DZD 14.2K
168.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$281 DZD 37.3K
223.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$209 DZD 27.7K
154.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
$1,298 DZD 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
$241 DZD 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.

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