Cost of Living Comparison Between M'Sila and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between M'Sila and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $485 per month in M'Sila vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $788 per month in M'Sila vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,092 per month in M'Sila vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

M'Sila is about 48% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both M'Sila and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – M'Sila 65% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 DZD 256

$2.08 ฿69.3

-7.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.14 DZD 2,548

$19.61 ฿653

-2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.94 DZD 525

$5.67 ฿189

-30.51%

Cappuccino

$0.40 DZD 53.7

$1.81 ฿60.1

-77.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 DZD 74.5

$0.77 ฿25.58

-27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 DZD 24.04

$0.35 ฿11.49

-48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 DZD 304

$2.21 ฿73.7

3.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 DZD 303

$3.79 ฿126

-40.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 DZD 115

$2.05 ฿68.2

-57.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.12 DZD 15.86

$1.51 ฿50.4

-92.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 DZD 152

$1.40 ฿46.57

-18.57%

Eggs

$1.38 DZD 184

$2.26 ฿75.2

-38.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.07 DZD 408

$16.19 ฿539

-81.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 DZD 556

$2.90 ฿96.4

44.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 DZD 1,240

$9.42 ฿314

-1.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 DZD 291

$2.68 ฿89.2

-18.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 DZD 377

$1.09 ฿36.28

160.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 DZD 149

$1.62 ฿53.8

-30.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 DZD 77.0

$1.46 ฿48.61

-60.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 DZD 70.4

$1.28 ฿42.54

-58.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.29 DZD 38.03

$1.06 ฿35.21

-72.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.12 DZD 15.76

$0.72 ฿23.88

-83.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 DZD 37.47

$0.53 ฿17.51

-47.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 DZD 370

$4.23 ฿141

-34.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.76 DZD 900

$18.29 ฿609

-63.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 DZD 173

$1.63 ฿54.3

-20.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 DZD 262

$2.90 ฿96.6

-32.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 DZD 19.93

$0.88 ฿29.24

-82.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.64 DZD 750

$53.8 ฿1,790

-89.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 DZD 80.9

$1.17 ฿39.04

-47.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 DZD 59.5

$0.58 ฿19.25

-22.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 DZD 784

$2.39 ฿79.4

146.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 DZD 46.66

$1.45 ฿48.28

-75.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K DZD 4.8M

$21.0K ฿699.5K

73.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.3K DZD 4.7M

$26.4K ฿879.7K

33.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$24.04 DZD 3,199

$63.7 ฿2,119

-62.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.95 DZD 1,059

$12.89 ฿429

-38.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.51 DZD 1,665

$20.52 ฿683

-39.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.85 DZD 2,775

$39.02 ฿1,299

-46.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 DZD 630

$6.58 ฿219

-28.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$118 DZD 15.7K

$784 ฿26.1K

-84.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,496 DZD 864.6K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-55.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.67 DZD 4,349

$55.1 ฿1,835

-40.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.44 DZD 4,718

$24.74 ฿824

43.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 DZD 9,478

$94.1 ฿3,133

-24.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 DZD 11.1K

$74.0 ฿2,462

13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 DZD 20.8K

$490 ฿16.3K

-68.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 DZD 14.9K

$288 ฿9,594

-61.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 DZD 36.8K

$891 ฿29.7K

-68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 DZD 28.2K

$521 ฿17.3K

-59.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,288 DZD 171.5K

$1,974 ฿65.7K

-34.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$639 DZD 85.1K

$1,444 ฿48.1K

-55.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$253 DZD 33.6K

$602 ฿20.0K

-58.01%

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 M'Sila: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in M'Sila 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 138% 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 M'Sila versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $143 vs $241 – making M'Sila 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

M'Sila vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 92% more than M'Sila, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $728 per month in M'Sila and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in M'Sila, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $118 per month in M'Sila and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in M'Sila, where all-in costs run around $485, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In M'Sila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. M'Sila costs $485 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with M'Sila. 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.