Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Souk Ahras Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Souk Ahras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $524 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $819 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,114 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 81% more than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Souk Ahras are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Souk Ahras 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$2.37 DZD 314

-11.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$10.90 DZD 1,445

82.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.14 DZD 549

39.86%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.66 DZD 88.1

177.27%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.54 DZD 71.4

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.28 DZD 36.57

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.45 DZD 192

61.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.22 DZD 294

66.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.82 DZD 109

147.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.21 DZD 27.79

661.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.26 DZD 167

12.70%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.36 DZD 180

60.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$3.46 DZD 459

359.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$2.84 DZD 377

8.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$16.73 DZD 2,219

-41.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.49 DZD 198

76.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$3.02 DZD 400

-63.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.16 DZD 154

40.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.94 DZD 124

62.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.44 DZD 57.9

181.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.42 DZD 55.5

169.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.25 DZD 33.22

196.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.29 DZD 38.91

72.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.27 DZD 300

88.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.05 DZD 934

154.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.32 DZD 176

28.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.95 DZD 258

48.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.19 DZD 24.93

394.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$6.31 DZD 837

776.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.59 DZD 78.8

108.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.50 DZD 67.0

6.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$5.20 DZD 690

-53.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.33 DZD 44.06

336.36%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$37.0K DZD 4.9M

-42.68%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$35.7K DZD 4.7M

-23.46%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$38.43 DZD 5,097

68.96%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$9.36 DZD 1,241

42.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$19.96 DZD 2,647

4.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$12.07 DZD 1,600

234.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$4.11 DZD 545

-3.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.56 DZD 604

47.15%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$94.0 DZD 12.5K

737.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,402 DZD 451.2K

344.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$30.71 DZD 4,073

83.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$35.62 DZD 4,724

-29.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$81.5 DZD 10.8K

13.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$79.6 DZD 10.6K

-5.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$157 DZD 20.8K

208.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$106 DZD 14.1K

170.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$297 DZD 39.4K

205.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$180 DZD 23.9K

194.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,294 DZD 171.6K

53.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$275 DZD 36.4K

428.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$302 DZD 40.0K

100.65%

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 Souk Ahras: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $157 in Souk Ahras. 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 101% 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 $11.00 in Souk Ahras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $162 – making Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 81% more than Souk Ahras, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $786 in Souk Ahras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.0 in Souk Ahras. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Souk Ahras, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Souk Ahras 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. Souk Ahras costs $524 versus $950 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 Souk Ahras. 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.