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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $435 in Setif, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $705 in Setif, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $974 in Setif, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Setif, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Setif are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Setif 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$3.21 DZD 425

-35.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$16.36 DZD 2,168

20.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$3.76 DZD 498

50.27%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$0.60 DZD 79.8

201.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.67 DZD 88.5

5.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.20 DZD 26.51

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.49 DZD 198

50.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.18 DZD 289

66.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.74 DZD 97.8

164.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.13 DZD 17.00

1053.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.05 DZD 139

27.62%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$0.87 DZD 116

159.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$6.53 DZD 866

149.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$4.20 DZD 557

-29.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$15.01 DZD 1,990

-33.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$2.15 DZD 285

19.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$2.79 DZD 370

-62.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.16 DZD 154

38.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.86 DZD 114

76.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.55 DZD 72.3

130.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.48 DZD 63.1

122.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.42 DZD 56.3

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.21 DZD 28.33

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.72 DZD 361

54.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.71 DZD 756

212.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.26 DZD 167

34.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.03 DZD 270

39.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.13 DZD 17.13

615.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$5.77 DZD 764

833.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.57 DZD 75.4

115.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.41 DZD 54.6

41.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.13 DZD 680

-52.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.36 DZD 48.21

291.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$29.3K DZD 3.9M

-26.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$21.0K DZD 2.8M

30.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,093

$36.86 DZD 4,886

72.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 ฿423

$10.76 DZD 1,427

19.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$12.97 DZD 1,720

55.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$18.14 DZD 2,405

113.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$5.84 DZD 774

-32.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.51 DZD 598

49.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.6K

$574 DZD 76.1K

35.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$6,503 DZD 862.0K

124.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$17.19 DZD 2,279

215.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$15.44 DZD 2,047

64.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$35.47 DZD 4,702

165.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$57.5 DZD 7,616

27.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$69.4 DZD 9,196

605.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$49.21 DZD 6,524

487.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$138 DZD 18.3K

547.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$117 DZD 15.5K

342.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$343 DZD 45.5K

469.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$310 DZD 41.1K

94.38%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Setif: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $69.4 in Setif. 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 94% 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 $16.00 in Setif. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $167 – making Setif the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Setif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 118% more than Setif, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $652 in Setif. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Setif, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $574 in Setif. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Setif, where all-in costs run around $435, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Setif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Setif costs $435 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Setif. 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.