Cost of Living Comparison Between El Bayadh and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between El Bayadh and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Bayadh 55% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

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

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