🙂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 Oued54% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84DZD 376
$1.96฿63.6
44.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.03DZD 2,524
$18.39฿598
3.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.45DZD 590
$7.87฿256
-43.46%
Cappuccino
$1.25DZD 166
$1.95฿63.4
-35.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.9
$0.85฿27.57
-32.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25DZD 33.41
$0.32฿10.52
-21.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92DZD 254
$2.14฿69.6
-10.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35DZD 311
$3.68฿120
-36.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02DZD 136
$1.66฿53.9
-38.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 18.53
$1.56฿50.7
-91.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64DZD 218
$1.19฿38.63
37.82%
Eggs
$1.79DZD 238
$1.99฿64.7
-10.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05DZD 1,199
$16.24฿528
-44.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.25DZD 696
$3.17฿103
65.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.34DZD 2,166
$10.84฿352
50.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07DZD 407
$2.65฿86.2
15.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87DZD 380
$1.22฿39.67
135.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71DZD 227
$1.65฿53.7
3.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79DZD 104
$1.55฿50.3
-49.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 78.2
$1.33฿43.17
-55.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.6
$1.21฿39.43
-58.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65DZD 86.2
$0.68฿22.04
-4.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.86
$0.57฿18.38
-50.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68DZD 355
$4.68฿152
-42.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.21DZD 956
$16.99฿552
-57.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 171
$1.82฿59.3
-29.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09DZD 278
$3.18฿103
-34.28%
🚌 Getting Around
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.48
$0.91฿29.46
-74.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.27DZD 2,291
$18.74฿609
-7.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 92.7
$1.41฿45.80
-50.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 47.87
$1.34฿43.52
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.38DZD 713
$8.14฿265
-33.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.37
$1.28฿41.53
-71.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KDZD 4.3M
$21.8K฿709.3K
49.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KDZD 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)
$41.18DZD 5,461
$70.5฿2,291
-41.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49DZD 1,258
$14.05฿457
-32.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.74DZD 2,219
$17.65฿574
-5.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.02DZD 3,052
$41.29฿1,342
-44.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.76฿220
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.27DZD 699
$5.96฿194
-11.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.9DZD 12.3K
$303฿9,846
-69.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,624DZD 480.5K
$15.0K฿486.2K
-75.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.36DZD 4,821
$54.7฿1,778
-33.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.95DZD 6,093
$26.29฿854
74.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1DZD 10.1K
$85.8฿2,788
-11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0DZD 10.2K
$69.7฿2,265
10.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191DZD 25.4K
$428฿13.9K
-55.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117DZD 15.5K
$239฿7,769
-51.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276DZD 36.6K
$811฿26.4K
-66.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183DZD 24.2K
$510฿16.6K
-64.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,151DZD 152.6K
$2,025฿65.8K
-43.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,128DZD 149.6K
$1,502฿48.8K
-24.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Oued
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$247DZD 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.