😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $624 in Oran, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,028 in Oran, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,433 in Oran, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Oran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Oran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Oran53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$2.78DZD 369
-30.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$25.02DZD 3,320
-25.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$3.83DZD 509
104.18%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$0.83DZD 111
134.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$0.66DZD 87.3
28.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$0.39DZD 52.3
-10.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$1.34DZD 177
58.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$1.96DZD 260
90.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$0.98DZD 131
74.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$0.10DZD 13.14
1530.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$1.24DZD 165
-8.06%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
$1.67DZD 222
15.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$6.58DZD 873
146.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$5.08DZD 674
-38.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$16.74DZD 2,222
-34.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$3.48DZD 462
-20.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$2.99DZD 397
-59.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.84DZD 244
-11.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$0.75DZD 99.5
112.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$0.58DZD 76.4
141.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$0.40DZD 52.9
192.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$0.45DZD 60.0
46.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$0.30DZD 40.32
76.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$2.61DZD 346
79.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$9.70DZD 1,288
92.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.84DZD 244
-2.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.56DZD 340
26.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
$0.17DZD 22.16
429.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
$4.65DZD 617
313.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$1.05DZD 139
34.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$0.29DZD 38.99
344.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$2.33DZD 309
236.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.62
$0.33DZD 44.23
284.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿695.5K
$16.6KDZD 2.2M
28.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
$21.2KDZD 2.8M
4.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$44.56DZD 5,914
55.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$10.95DZD 1,453
28.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$16.15DZD 2,143
11.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
$26.17DZD 3,473
56.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
$15.88DZD 2,107
-56.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$5.15DZD 684
14.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$61.0DZD 8,096
390.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$3,002DZD 398.4K
398.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$55.4DZD 7,351
-1.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
$52.9DZD 7,022
-49.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$110DZD 14.6K
-22.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$88.7DZD 11.8K
-20.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$195DZD 25.9K
119.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
$113DZD 15.0K
110.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$309DZD 41.0K
159.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
$197DZD 26.1K
161.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
$1,027DZD 136.3K
92.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
$761DZD 101.1K
93.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Oran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$304DZD 40.4K
102.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.5
-23.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Oran: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $195 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 run about 103% 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 $25.00 in Oran. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Oran – so Oran 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 Oran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Oran?
Chiang Mai costs about 39% more than Oran, 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 Oran?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $935 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. 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 Oran?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $61.0 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 Oran?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or Oran?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $624 in Oran, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Oran?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oran costs $624 versus $866 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 Oran?
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 Oran?
If budget matters most, go with Oran. 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