😐A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $567 in Relizane, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $951 in Relizane, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,335 in Relizane, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Relizane, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Relizane are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Relizane59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10฿69.3
$3.44DZD 456
-38.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84฿656
$29.53DZD 3,916
-32.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79฿191
$4.60DZD 611
25.87%
Cappuccino
$1.83฿60.4
$1.16DZD 154
57.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.61
$0.62DZD 81.8
25.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31฿10.37
$0.30DZD 39.90
3.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34฿77.2
$2.31DZD 306
1.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70฿122
$2.26DZD 300
63.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿67.1
$0.94DZD 125
115.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60฿52.7
$0.13DZD 17.07
1130.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.75
$1.16DZD 153
22.41%
Eggs
$2.18฿71.9
$1.39DZD 184
56.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91฿526
$8.15DZD 1,081
95.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07฿102
$4.24DZD 563
-27.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87฿326
$14.89DZD 1,974
-33.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿86.8
$2.08DZD 276
26.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10฿36.19
$2.84DZD 376
-61.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿53.8
$1.13DZD 150
44.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.6
$0.98DZD 130
56.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24฿41.13
$0.65DZD 85.7
90.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13฿37.37
$0.48DZD 63.2
135.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74฿24.38
$0.80DZD 106
-7.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.48
$0.26DZD 34.06
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28฿141
$3.19DZD 422
34.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.97฿594
$6.99DZD 927
157.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70฿56.1
$1.33DZD 177
27.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿95.7
$1.93DZD 256
50.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94฿31.13
$0.16DZD 21.10
487.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3฿1,827
$6.36DZD 844
769.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.76
$0.56DZD 74.2
119.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53฿17.66
$0.49DZD 65.3
8.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40฿79.3
$5.75DZD 762
-58.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44฿47.55
$0.35DZD 45.84
311.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿700.2K
$36.3KDZD 4.8M
-41.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿902.1K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-24.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.9฿2,145
$45.00DZD 5,967
44.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35฿441
$10.91DZD 1,447
22.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83฿688
$12.84DZD 1,703
62.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42฿1,336
$20.75DZD 2,752
94.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71฿222
$4.55DZD 604
47.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$787฿26.0K
$103DZD 13.7K
660.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿499.6K
$6,669DZD 884.4K
126.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,858
$33.53DZD 4,447
67.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95฿824
$36.23DZD 4,805
-31.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7฿3,063
$72.3DZD 9,590
28.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1฿2,482
$84.2DZD 11.2K
-10.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484฿16.0K
$158DZD 20.9K
206.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287฿9,491
$108DZD 14.3K
166.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910฿30.1K
$279DZD 37.0K
225.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531฿17.5K
$213DZD 28.3K
148.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,980฿65.4K
$1,307DZD 173.3K
51.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿47.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605฿20.0K
$315DZD 41.7K
92.41%
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 Relizane: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $158 in Relizane. 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 92% 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 $30.00 in Relizane. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $182 in Relizane – so Relizane 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 Relizane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Relizane?
Chiang Mai costs about 68% more than Relizane, 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 Relizane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $850 in Relizane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Relizane?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Relizane, 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 Relizane?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $103 in Relizane. 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 Relizane?
Groceries cost about 33% 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 Relizane?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Relizane, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Relizane 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 Relizane?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Relizane costs $567 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 Relizane?
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 Relizane?
If budget matters most, go with Relizane. 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