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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $615 per month in El Oued vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $978 per month in El Oued vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,341 per month in El Oued vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

El Oued is about 27% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both El Oued and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – El Oued 54% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84 DZD 376
$1.96 ฿63.6
44.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.03 DZD 2,524
$18.39 ฿598
3.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.45 DZD 590
$7.87 ฿256
-43.46%
Cappuccino
$1.25 DZD 166
$1.95 ฿63.4
-35.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 DZD 75.9
$0.85 ฿27.57
-32.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 DZD 33.41
$0.32 ฿10.52
-21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 DZD 254
$2.14 ฿69.6
-10.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 DZD 311
$3.68 ฿120
-36.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 DZD 136
$1.66 ฿53.9
-38.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.14 DZD 18.53
$1.56 ฿50.7
-91.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 DZD 218
$1.19 ฿38.63
37.82%
Eggs
$1.79 DZD 238
$1.99 ฿64.7
-10.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 DZD 1,199
$16.24 ฿528
-44.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.25 DZD 696
$3.17 ฿103
65.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 DZD 2,166
$10.84 ฿352
50.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 DZD 407
$2.65 ฿86.2
15.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 DZD 380
$1.22 ฿39.67
135.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 DZD 227
$1.65 ฿53.7
3.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 DZD 104
$1.55 ฿50.3
-49.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 DZD 78.2
$1.33 ฿43.17
-55.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 66.6
$1.21 ฿39.43
-58.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 DZD 86.2
$0.68 ฿22.04
-4.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.86
$0.57 ฿18.38
-50.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68 DZD 355
$4.68 ฿152
-42.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.21 DZD 956
$16.99 ฿552
-57.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 DZD 171
$1.82 ฿59.3
-29.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 DZD 278
$3.18 ฿103
-34.28%
🚌 Getting Around
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 DZD 30.48
$0.91 ฿29.46
-74.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.27 DZD 2,291
$18.74 ฿609
-7.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 DZD 92.7
$1.41 ฿45.80
-50.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 DZD 47.87
$1.34 ฿43.52
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 DZD 713
$8.14 ฿265
-33.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 DZD 48.37
$1.28 ฿41.53
-71.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K DZD 4.3M
$21.8K ฿709.3K
49.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K DZD 4.5M
$22.4K ฿728.0K
51.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.18 DZD 5,461
$70.5 ฿2,291
-41.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49 DZD 1,258
$14.05 ฿457
-32.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.74 DZD 2,219
$17.65 ฿574
-5.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.02 DZD 3,052
$41.29 ฿1,342
-44.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.76 ฿220
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.27 DZD 699
$5.96 ฿194
-11.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.9 DZD 12.3K
$303 ฿9,846
-69.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,624 DZD 480.5K
$15.0K ฿486.2K
-75.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.36 DZD 4,821
$54.7 ฿1,778
-33.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.95 DZD 6,093
$26.29 ฿854
74.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 DZD 10.1K
$85.8 ฿2,788
-11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0 DZD 10.2K
$69.7 ฿2,265
10.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 DZD 25.4K
$428 ฿13.9K
-55.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 DZD 15.5K
$239 ฿7,769
-51.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 DZD 36.6K
$811 ฿26.4K
-66.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 DZD 24.2K
$510 ฿16.6K
-64.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,151 DZD 152.6K
$2,025 ฿65.8K
-43.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,128 DZD 149.6K
$1,502 ฿48.8K
-24.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$247 DZD 32.8K
$623 ฿20.2K
-60.32%
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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $191 in El Oued versus $428 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 152% 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 $19.00 in El Oued versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in El Oued vs $242 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 38% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $923 per month in El Oued and $1,272 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $92.9 per month in El Oued and $303 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 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 $1,200/month in El Oued or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $615 in El Oued and $848 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 $615 versus $848 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 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.

El Oued vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities