🙂A single person spends $603 per month in El Bayadh vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $981 per month in El Bayadh vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,359 per month in El Bayadh vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂El Bayadh is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both El Bayadh and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – El Bayadh55% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.27DZD 434
$1.98฿64.3
65.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29DZD 3,087
$18.80฿612
23.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.82DZD 507
$7.75฿252
-50.71%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 96.1
$1.92฿62.5
-62.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.5
$0.79฿25.79
-27.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.80
$0.36฿11.62
-41.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97DZD 261
$2.21฿72.1
-10.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 322
$3.66฿119
-33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 137
$1.65฿53.8
-37.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 16.93
$1.63฿53.2
-92.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64DZD 218
$1.19฿38.86
37.82%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 247
$2.00฿65.1
-6.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.93DZD 1,183
$15.98฿520
-44.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27DZD 698
$3.03฿98.5
73.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.30DZD 2,160
$10.86฿354
50.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12DZD 414
$2.76฿90.0
13.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94DZD 390
$1.18฿38.42
149.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 228
$1.64฿53.5
4.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75DZD 99.8
$1.52฿49.51
-50.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55DZD 72.9
$1.38฿45.10
-60.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.0
$1.19฿38.84
-58.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65DZD 86.4
$0.70฿22.86
-7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.13
$0.56฿18.13
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71DZD 359
$4.58฿149
-40.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.72DZD 891
$16.56฿539
-59.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 173
$1.83฿59.5
-28.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16DZD 286
$3.20฿104
-32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.20
$0.88฿28.56
-71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.43DZD 2,311
$18.72฿610
-6.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 92.7
$1.36฿44.16
-48.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33DZD 44.17
$1.34฿43.65
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.18DZD 686
$7.84฿256
-33.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.51
$1.23฿39.92
-72.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KDZD 4.2M
$21.6K฿704.3K
47.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KDZD 4.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
47.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.24DZD 5,333
$70.5฿2,298
-42.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.20DZD 1,220
$13.68฿445
-32.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.73DZD 2,217
$17.45฿568
-4.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.10DZD 3,062
$41.33฿1,346
-44.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.26DZD 697
$5.77฿188
-8.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0DZD 12.3K
$307฿10.0K
-69.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,570DZD 473.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.10DZD 4,784
$55.8฿1,817
-35.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.05DZD 6,103
$26.21฿854
75.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7DZD 9,771
$85.8฿2,793
-14.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6DZD 10.4K
$72.2฿2,353
8.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198DZD 26.3K
$430฿14.0K
-53.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.1K
$239฿7,774
-52.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.7K
$817฿26.6K
-66.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187DZD 24.7K
$511฿16.6K
-63.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,209DZD 160.2K
$1,983฿64.6K
-39.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,236DZD 163.8K
$1,484฿48.3K
-16.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Bayadh
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $198 in El Bayadh versus $430 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 – $205 in El Bayadh vs $241 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 44% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $905 per month in El Bayadh and $1,303 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.0 per month in El Bayadh and $307 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $603 in El Bayadh and $869 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 $603 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 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 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.