🙂A single person spends $607 per month in El Bayadh vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $967 per month in El Bayadh vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,327 per month in El Bayadh vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂El Bayadh is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both El Bayadh and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – El Bayadh54% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16DZD 418
$2.04฿68.2
54.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.28DZD 3,078
$18.71฿624
24.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.84DZD 508
$7.86฿262
-51.15%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 95.2
$2.03฿67.7
-64.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.7
$0.80฿26.64
-28.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.45
$0.35฿11.68
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94DZD 256
$2.14฿71.5
-9.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33DZD 308
$3.67฿122
-36.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.73฿57.6
-42.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 20.67
$1.57฿52.4
-89.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58DZD 208
$1.20฿39.99
31.67%
Eggs
$1.79DZD 236
$1.97฿65.8
-9.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76DZD 1,159
$16.23฿541
-46.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14DZD 680
$3.06฿102
67.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.63DZD 2,198
$10.80฿360
53.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06DZD 404
$2.77฿92.3
10.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86DZD 378
$1.17฿38.94
144.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70DZD 225
$1.71฿57.0
-0.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74DZD 97.8
$1.59฿53.2
-53.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55DZD 72.8
$1.39฿46.51
-60.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.1
$1.16฿38.56
-57.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66DZD 87.4
$0.66฿22.05
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.78
$0.52฿17.31
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70DZD 356
$4.65฿155
-41.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80DZD 899
$17.78฿593
-61.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 171
$1.79฿59.6
-27.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14DZD 284
$3.34฿111
-35.93%
🚌 Getting Around
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.36
$0.91฿30.27
-74.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.46DZD 2,309
$18.64฿622
-6.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65DZD 86.4
$1.41฿47.04
-53.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33DZD 44.11
$1.34฿44.70
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.27DZD 697
$8.11฿270
-35.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.86
$1.23฿41.16
-72.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KDZD 4.2M
$21.4K฿715.1K
49.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
$21.8K฿728.0K
51.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.70DZD 5,381
$71.3฿2,379
-42.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56DZD 1,264
$14.01฿467
-31.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.24DZD 2,279
$17.93฿598
-3.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.00DZD 3,042
$40.82฿1,362
-43.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.44DZD 719
$5.72฿191
-4.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.7DZD 12.3K
$308฿10.3K
-69.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,663DZD 484.4K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-75.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.31DZD 4,934
$55.8฿1,860
-33.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.81DZD 6,057
$26.04฿869
75.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6DZD 10.1K
$84.8฿2,829
-9.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2DZD 10.2K
$71.0฿2,368
8.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194DZD 25.6K
$423฿14.1K
-54.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113DZD 15.0K
$242฿8,088
-53.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271DZD 35.8K
$797฿26.6K
-66.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184DZD 24.3K
$507฿16.9K
-63.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,263DZD 167.0K
$1,918฿64.0K
-34.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,154DZD 152.6K
$1,464฿48.8K
-21.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
5
8.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Bayadh: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in El Bayadh versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in El Bayadh versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in El Bayadh vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so El Bayadh 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
El Bayadh vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, El Bayadh or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than El Bayadh, 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 El Bayadh and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $910 per month in El Bayadh and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, El Bayadh or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Bayadh, 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 El Bayadh and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $92.7 per month in El Bayadh and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in El Bayadh or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $800/month in El Bayadh or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $607 in El Bayadh and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, El Bayadh or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. El Bayadh costs $607 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is El Bayadh compared to Chiang Mai?
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 El Bayadh or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with El Bayadh. 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.