😐A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $611 in Relizane, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $990 in Relizane, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,368 in Relizane, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 42% more than Relizane, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Relizane are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Relizane55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$3.18DZD 421
-37.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$24.00DZD 3,181
-21.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$4.78DZD 634
62.13%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$0.98DZD 130
95.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$0.56DZD 74.5
41.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.21DZD 27.81
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$2.00DZD 265
10.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.31DZD 306
58.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$1.05DZD 139
57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.14DZD 18.90
1064.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.79DZD 238
-33.52%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.88DZD 249
6.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$8.92DZD 1,183
79.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$5.27DZD 698
-42.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$16.54DZD 2,192
-34.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$3.12DZD 413
-11.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.85DZD 378
-58.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.69DZD 224
-2.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$0.86DZD 114
76.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.65DZD 86.1
112.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.47DZD 61.6
153.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.67DZD 88.3
4.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.30DZD 40.33
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$2.76DZD 366
65.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$6.89DZD 913
140.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$1.33DZD 176
37.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$2.14DZD 284
49.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.25DZD 33.35
252.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$17.06DZD 2,261
9.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$0.67DZD 88.6
102.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.34DZD 44.58
294.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$5.41DZD 717
44.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$0.33DZD 44.21
272.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-40.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
-32.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$40.37DZD 5,350
74.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$9.17DZD 1,216
49.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$17.56DZD 2,327
-0.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$23.15DZD 3,068
78.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$6.29DZD 834
-8.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$94.5DZD 12.5K
224.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$3,589DZD 475.7K
307.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$36.23DZD 4,801
53.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$46.38DZD 6,147
-43.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$75.1DZD 9,953
14.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$77.8DZD 10.3K
-7.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$193DZD 25.6K
122.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$114DZD 15.2K
108.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$275DZD 36.4K
197.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$184DZD 24.4K
177.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$1,113DZD 147.5K
78.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$1,171DZD 155.2K
26.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Relizane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$317DZD 42.0K
95.25%
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 Relizane: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $193 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 95% 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 Relizane. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $207 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 42% 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 vs Relizane?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $917 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 Relizane?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.5 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 Relizane?
Groceries cost about 16% 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 Relizane?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $611 in Relizane, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Relizane?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Relizane costs $611 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 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 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