🙂A single person spends $603 per month in Guelma vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $958 per month in Guelma vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,312 per month in Guelma vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Guelma is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Guelma and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Guelma55% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26DZD 431
$2.04฿68.2
59.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.27DZD 3,077
$18.71฿624
24.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98DZD 526
$7.86฿262
-49.36%
Cappuccino
$0.77DZD 102
$2.03฿67.7
-62.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 80.3
$0.80฿26.64
-23.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.75
$0.35฿11.68
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90DZD 252
$2.14฿71.5
-11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41DZD 318
$3.67฿122
-34.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.73฿57.6
-42.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 20.71
$1.57฿52.4
-89.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61DZD 213
$1.20฿39.99
34.17%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 248
$1.97฿65.8
-5.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.93DZD 1,181
$16.23฿541
-44.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.43DZD 718
$3.06฿102
77.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.83DZD 2,226
$10.80฿360
55.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17DZD 419
$2.77฿92.3
14.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.91DZD 385
$1.17฿38.94
148.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69DZD 223
$1.71฿57.0
-1.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76DZD 100
$1.59฿53.2
-52.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 77.6
$1.39฿46.51
-57.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 64.9
$1.16฿38.56
-57.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.2
$0.66฿22.05
-7.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 37.01
$0.52฿17.31
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81DZD 371
$4.65฿155
-39.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93DZD 917
$17.78฿593
-61.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 172
$1.79฿59.6
-27.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14DZD 283
$3.34฿111
-35.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.10
$0.91฿30.27
-72.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.15DZD 2,268
$18.64฿622
-7.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65DZD 85.7
$1.41฿47.04
-53.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.56
$1.34฿44.70
-74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.19DZD 687
$8.11฿270
-36.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.09
$1.23฿41.16
-73.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KDZD 4.3M
$21.4K฿715.1K
50.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
$21.8K฿728.0K
55.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.42DZD 5,477
$71.3฿2,379
-41.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.18DZD 1,214
$14.01฿467
-34.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.81DZD 2,223
$17.93฿598
-6.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.68DZD 3,132
$40.82฿1,362
-41.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.42DZD 717
$5.72฿191
-5.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0DZD 12.3K
$308฿10.3K
-69.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,547DZD 468.9K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-75.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.88DZD 4,877
$55.8฿1,860
-33.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.40DZD 6,003
$26.04฿869
74.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6DZD 10.1K
$84.8฿2,829
-9.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4DZD 10.2K
$71.0฿2,368
9.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$423฿14.1K
-53.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.1K
$242฿8,088
-52.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.6K
$797฿26.6K
-65.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182DZD 24.0K
$507฿16.9K
-64.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,147DZD 151.6K
$1,918฿64.0K
-40.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,131DZD 149.6K
$1,464฿48.8K
-22.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$312DZD 41.3K
$595฿19.9K
-47.50%
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 Guelma: July 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Guelma 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 90% 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 $23.00 in Guelma versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Guelma vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Guelma 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
Guelma vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Guelma or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Guelma, 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 Guelma and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $905 per month in Guelma 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, Guelma or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guelma, 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 Guelma and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.0 per month in Guelma 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 Guelma or in 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 Guelma or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $603 in Guelma and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guelma or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guelma costs $603 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 Guelma 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 Guelma or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Guelma. 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.