Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Oran

For one person, living is cheaper in Oran: $625 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Oran, Algeria
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Oran
🇩🇿 Algeria
$625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Oran

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Oran actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $625 in Oran, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Oran $625

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,006 in Oran, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Oran $1,006

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,386 in Oran, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Oran $1,386

Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Oran, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Oran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Oran 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$3.19 DZD 432
-29.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$22.12 DZD 2,989
-14.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$4.38 DZD 591
26.71%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.25 DZD 169
33.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.55
$0.67 DZD 90.2
-4.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.31
$0.48 DZD 64.7
-35.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.6
$1.71 DZD 231
38.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$2.93 DZD 397
24.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.8
$1.02 DZD 138
91.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.48
$0.12 DZD 16.63
1100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.04
$0.98 DZD 133
35.71%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.1
$1.57 DZD 213
45.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$9.83 DZD 1,329
67.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$5.79 DZD 783
-51.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$15.94 DZD 2,154
-41.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$3.61 DZD 489
-34.90%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.80
$3.01 DZD 406
-67.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.34 DZD 181
19.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.10 DZD 148
36.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.12
$0.77 DZD 104
66.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.19
$0.71 DZD 95.7
54.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.82
$0.66 DZD 88.5
7.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.37
$0.42 DZD 56.2
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$2.54 DZD 343
62.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$10.03 DZD 1,356
74.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$2.18 DZD 295
-26.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿94.0
$2.54 DZD 343
9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.31
$0.13 DZD 17.78
569.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,826
$8.84 DZD 1,195
511.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.06
$0.91 DZD 123
27.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.80
$0.33 DZD 44.91
60.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.8
$2.28 DZD 308
6.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.90
$0.33 DZD 44.90
339.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.7K
$16.1K DZD 2.2M
31.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿909.3K
$29.6K DZD 4.0M
-8.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,098
$19.13 DZD 2,585
224.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿411
$8.73 DZD 1,180
39.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$16.13 DZD 2,180
24.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$27.67 DZD 3,739
34.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
$17.51 DZD 2,367
-78.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$4.64 DZD 627
39.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$56.6 DZD 7,643
1201.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.3K
$3,171 DZD 428.5K
365.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,801
$33.40 DZD 4,515
59.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$54.2 DZD 7,325
-54.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,087
$79.1 DZD 10.7K
15.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,428
$81.6 DZD 11.0K
-11.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$203 DZD 27.4K
137.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$126 DZD 17.0K
145.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$312 DZD 42.2K
222.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$198 DZD 26.8K
219.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.8K
$954 DZD 128.9K
147.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$722 DZD 97.6K
119.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
$290 DZD 39.2K
103.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.5
-14.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Oran: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Oran
$126 59.2% $183
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Oran
$222 5.2% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Oran
$112 2.9% $3.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Oran
$44 53.4% $50
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Oran
$73 6.4% $5
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Oran
$12 80.5% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Oran
$37 26.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $203 in Oran. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chiang Mai are about 2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $22 in Oran. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $222 in Oran – so Oran wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇩🇿 Oran
🕒 Local time
12:43 12:43 PM
06:43 6:43 AM
6 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
609,940
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.4 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Oran 9,630 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Oran

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Oran?
Chiang Mai costs about 50% more than Oran, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Oran?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $938 in Oran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Oran?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oran, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $203 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Oran?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $57 in Oran. 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 Oran?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Oran?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Oran, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Oran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Oran – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Oran?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Oran?
If budget matters most, go with Oran. If higher salaries 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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