🙂A single person spends $619 per month in Guelma vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $965 per month in Guelma vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,312 per month in Guelma vs $1,855 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 – Guelma54% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16DZD 419
$1.98฿64.3
59.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.35DZD 3,094
$18.80฿612
24.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.00DZD 530
$7.75฿252
-48.39%
Cappuccino
$0.78DZD 103
$1.92฿62.5
-59.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62DZD 82.0
$0.79฿25.79
-21.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.54
$0.36฿11.62
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91DZD 254
$2.21฿72.1
-13.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30DZD 305
$3.66฿119
-37.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 137
$1.65฿53.8
-37.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 19.13
$1.63฿53.2
-91.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64DZD 217
$1.19฿38.86
37.82%
Eggs
$1.86DZD 247
$2.00฿65.1
-7.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05DZD 1,199
$15.98฿520
-43.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.23DZD 693
$3.03฿98.5
72.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.46DZD 2,182
$10.86฿354
51.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23DZD 428
$2.76฿90.0
17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81DZD 372
$1.18฿38.42
138.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75DZD 232
$1.64฿53.5
6.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79DZD 105
$1.52฿49.51
-48.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 77.9
$1.38฿45.10
-57.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.8
$1.19฿38.84
-57.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65DZD 86.3
$0.70฿22.86
-7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.70
$0.56฿18.13
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70DZD 358
$4.58฿149
-41.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.79DZD 900
$16.56฿539
-59.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33DZD 176
$1.83฿59.5
-27.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DZD 275
$3.20฿104
-35.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.30
$0.88฿28.56
-73.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.25DZD 2,287
$18.72฿610
-7.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67DZD 88.8
$1.36฿44.16
-50.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.71
$1.34฿43.65
-74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.26DZD 697
$7.84฿256
-32.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 48.51
$1.23฿39.92
-69.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
$21.6K฿704.3K
50.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KDZD 4.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
48.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.33DZD 5,478
$70.5฿2,298
-41.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.21DZD 1,221
$13.68฿445
-32.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.03DZD 2,257
$17.45฿568
-2.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.07DZD 3,057
$41.33฿1,346
-44.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.44DZD 721
$5.77฿188
-5.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.6DZD 12.5K
$307฿10.0K
-69.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,642DZD 482.7K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.56DZD 4,846
$55.8฿1,817
-34.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.15DZD 6,117
$26.21฿854
76.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3DZD 9,840
$85.8฿2,793
-13.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0DZD 10.3K
$72.2฿2,353
7.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194DZD 25.7K
$430฿14.0K
-54.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115DZD 15.2K
$239฿7,774
-51.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274DZD 36.4K
$817฿26.6K
-66.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184DZD 24.4K
$511฿16.6K
-63.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,153DZD 152.9K
$1,983฿64.6K
-41.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,128DZD 149.5K
$1,484฿48.3K
-24.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$306DZD 40.5K
$619฿20.2K
-50.58%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Guelma versus $430 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 102% 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 – $205 in Guelma vs $241 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 40% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $928 per month in Guelma and $1,303 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $94.6 per month in Guelma and $307 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $619 in Guelma and $869 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 $619 versus $869 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 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.