Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Souk Ahras

For one person, living is cheaper in Souk Ahras: $500 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index
24

Cost of Living Index in Souk Ahras
Learn more

Souk Ahras Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Souk Ahras

🇩🇿 Algeria

$500

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Souk Ahras

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Souk Ahras actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $500 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Souk Ahras $500

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $782 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Souk Ahras $782

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,065 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Souk Ahras $1,065

Chiang Mai costs about 87% more than Souk Ahras, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Souk Ahras are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Souk Ahras 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$2.24 DZD 302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$10.47 DZD 1,410

81.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$4.10 DZD 552

35.37%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$0.67 DZD 90.1

149.25%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$0.48 DZD 64.8

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.23 DZD 30.75

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$1.70 DZD 228

38.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$2.45 DZD 330

49.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$0.83 DZD 112

134.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$0.17 DZD 22.24

747.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.26 DZD 169

5.56%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$1.19 DZD 160

91.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$3.32 DZD 447

395.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.82 DZD 380

-1.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$16.44 DZD 2,213

-43.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$1.45 DZD 196

62.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$2.88 DZD 388

-66.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.10 DZD 149

45.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$0.97 DZD 130

54.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$0.40 DZD 53.4

220.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$0.38 DZD 50.9

189.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$0.22 DZD 29.43

222.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$0.28 DZD 37.92

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$2.17 DZD 292

90.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$6.68 DZD 899

162.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.08 DZD 145

49.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.18 DZD 294

27.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.18 DZD 23.71

383.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$6.28 DZD 846

761.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$0.57 DZD 76.5

103.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.52 DZD 70.7

1.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$4.60 DZD 620

-47.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$0.33 DZD 43.82

339.39%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$32.0K DZD 4.3M

-34.19%

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$34.1K DZD 4.6M

-20.93%

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$36.36 DZD 4,896

70.98%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$9.31 DZD 1,253

30.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$19.12 DZD 2,575

5.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$11.80 DZD 1,589

216.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$3.79 DZD 511

-0.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$4.59 DZD 618

41.39%

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

$736 ฿24.9K

$88.1 DZD 11.9K

735.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$4,890 DZD 658.5K

201.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$30.07 DZD 4,049

77.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$36.06 DZD 4,857

-31.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$76.6 DZD 10.3K

19.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$78.1 DZD 10.5K

-7.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$144 DZD 19.4K

235.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$93.6 DZD 12.6K

230.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$292 DZD 39.4K

244.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$175 DZD 23.5K

262.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$966 DZD 130.0K

144.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$1,030 DZD 138.7K

54.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$288 DZD 38.8K

104.59%

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Souk Ahras: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Souk Ahras

$94 18.7% 69.7% $215

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Souk Ahras

$156 31.3% 33.3% $78

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Souk Ahras

$99 19.9% 8.5% $9.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Souk Ahras

$65 13% 31.4% $30

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Souk Ahras

$54 10.9% 29.8% $23

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Souk Ahras

$10 2% 83.4% $51

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Souk Ahras

$21 4.2% 58.3% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $144 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 in Chiang Mai are about 2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $10 in Souk Ahras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $156 – making Souk Ahras the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇩🇿 Souk Ahras

🕒 Local time

06:15 6:15 AM

00:15 12:15 AM

6 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

155,259

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Algerian Dinar DZD د.ج

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 DZD = 7.43 USD

1,000 DZD = 6.67 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.43 USD). 1 EUR = 150 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.67 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Souk Ahras 8,870 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Souk Ahras

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 87% more than Souk Ahras, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $749 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $144 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $88 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 the gap depends on what you buy.

Families tend to lean toward Souk Ahras – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Souk Ahras. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.