🙂A single person spends $553 per month in Guelma vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $881 per month in Guelma vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,208 per month in Guelma vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Guelma is about 41% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Guelma and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Guelma60% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.19DZD 425
$2.08฿69.3
53.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.03DZD 2,266
$19.61฿653
-13.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.08DZD 544
$5.67฿189
-28.04%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 98.9
$1.81฿60.1
-59.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66DZD 88.0
$0.77฿25.58
-14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.29
$0.35฿11.49
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53DZD 204
$2.21฿73.7
-30.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12DZD 283
$3.79฿126
-44.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91DZD 121
$2.05฿68.2
-55.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 19.07
$1.51฿50.4
-90.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15DZD 153
$1.40฿46.57
-17.86%
Eggs
$1.39DZD 185
$2.26฿75.2
-38.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22DZD 1,094
$16.19฿539
-49.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05DZD 539
$2.90฿96.4
39.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.66DZD 1,952
$9.42฿314
55.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19DZD 291
$2.68฿89.2
-18.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84DZD 377
$1.09฿36.28
160.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12DZD 148
$1.62฿53.8
-30.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93DZD 124
$1.46฿48.61
-36.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65DZD 86.2
$1.28฿42.54
-49.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51DZD 68.0
$1.06฿35.21
-51.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71DZD 94.5
$0.72฿23.88
-1.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.53
$0.53฿17.51
-50.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75DZD 366
$4.23฿141
-34.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90DZD 918
$18.29฿609
-62.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13DZD 151
$1.63฿54.3
-30.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94DZD 259
$2.90฿96.6
-33.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17DZD 22.74
$0.88฿29.24
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.02DZD 802
$53.8฿1,790
-88.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59DZD 78.6
$1.17฿39.04
-49.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42DZD 56.1
$0.58฿19.25
-27.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.04DZD 671
$2.39฿79.4
110.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.39
$1.45฿48.28
-75.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KDZD 4.8M
$21.0K฿699.5K
72.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KDZD 4.8M
$26.4K฿879.7K
35.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.32DZD 5,100
$63.7฿2,119
-39.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.03DZD 1,202
$12.89฿429
-29.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.46DZD 1,658
$20.52฿683
-39.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.91DZD 2,783
$39.02฿1,299
-46.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.58DZD 609
$6.58฿219
-30.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$100DZD 13.3K
$784฿26.1K
-87.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,647DZD 485.5K
$14.7K฿488.4K
-75.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.92DZD 4,382
$55.1฿1,835
-40.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23DZD 4,689
$24.74฿824
42.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1DZD 9,325
$94.1฿3,133
-25.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3DZD 10.2K
$74.0฿2,462
3.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$158DZD 21.1K
$490฿16.3K
-67.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106DZD 14.1K
$288฿9,594
-63.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283DZD 37.7K
$891฿29.7K
-68.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210DZD 28.0K
$521฿17.3K
-59.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,275DZD 169.7K
$1,974฿65.7K
-35.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$387DZD 51.5K
$1,444฿48.1K
-73.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$314DZD 41.7K
$602฿20.0K
-47.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
5.57
-4.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guelma: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Guelma versus $490 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 92% 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 $17.00 in Guelma versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $241 – making Guelma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 69% 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 $829 per month in Guelma and $1,398 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 $100 per month in Guelma and $784 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 35% 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 $2,000/month in Guelma or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Guelma, where all-in costs run around $553, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Guelma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Guelma or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Guelma costs $553 versus $932 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.