🙂A single person spends $609 per month in El Oued vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $957 per month in El Oued vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,305 per month in El Oued vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂El Oued is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both El Oued and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – El Oued54% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94DZD 388
$2.04฿68.2
44.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.57DZD 2,587
$18.71฿624
4.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27DZD 565
$7.86฿262
-45.67%
Cappuccino
$1.27DZD 169
$2.03฿67.7
-37.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.8
$0.80฿26.64
-28.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.27
$0.35฿11.68
-34.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90DZD 251
$2.14฿71.5
-11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 322
$3.67฿122
-33.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04DZD 137
$1.73฿57.6
-39.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.06
$1.57฿52.4
-91.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56DZD 207
$1.20฿39.99
30.00%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 247
$1.97฿65.8
-5.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.79DZD 1,162
$16.23฿541
-45.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27DZD 697
$3.06฿102
72.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.24DZD 2,147
$10.80฿360
50.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10DZD 410
$2.77฿92.3
11.91%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81DZD 371
$1.17฿38.94
140.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 228
$1.71฿57.0
0.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73DZD 97.0
$1.59฿53.2
-54.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 78.2
$1.39฿46.51
-57.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 64.8
$1.16฿38.56
-57.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64DZD 84.7
$0.66฿22.05
-3.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.92
$0.52฿17.31
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81DZD 371
$4.65฿155
-39.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.73DZD 890
$17.78฿593
-62.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 172
$1.79฿59.6
-27.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17DZD 287
$3.34฿111
-35.03%
🚌 Getting Around
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.15
$0.91฿30.27
-74.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.70DZD 2,340
$18.64฿622
-5.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 92.5
$1.41฿47.04
-50.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.83
$1.34฿44.70
-74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.37DZD 710
$8.11฿270
-33.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.91
$1.23฿41.16
-72.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
$21.4K฿715.1K
49.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
$21.8K฿728.0K
51.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.48DZD 5,484
$71.3฿2,379
-41.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49DZD 1,255
$14.01฿467
-32.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.01DZD 2,249
$17.93฿598
-5.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.59DZD 3,120
$40.82฿1,362
-42.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.29DZD 699
$5.72฿191
-7.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.6DZD 12.5K
$308฿10.3K
-69.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,569DZD 471.9K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-75.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.45DZD 4,819
$55.8฿1,860
-34.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57DZD 5,893
$26.04฿869
71.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.2DZD 10.1K
$84.8฿2,829
-10.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7DZD 10.4K
$71.0฿2,368
10.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196DZD 25.9K
$423฿14.1K
-53.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.0K
$242฿8,088
-53.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272DZD 36.0K
$797฿26.6K
-65.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182DZD 24.1K
$507฿16.9K
-64.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,144DZD 151.3K
$1,918฿64.0K
-40.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$993DZD 131.3K
$1,464฿48.8K
-32.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$260DZD 34.4K
$595฿19.9K
-56.29%
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 Oued: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $196 in El Oued 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.
💰Salaries run about 129% 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 El Oued versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in El Oued vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so El Oued 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 Oued vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, El Oued or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 40% more than El Oued, 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 Oued and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $914 per month in El Oued 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 Oued or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Oued, 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 Oued and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $94.6 per month in El Oued 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 Oued 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 $1,200/month in El Oued or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $609 in El Oued and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, El Oued or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. El Oued costs $609 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 Oued 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 Oued or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with El Oued. 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.