🙂A single person spends $615 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $975 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,335 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sidi Bel Abbes is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sidi Bel Abbes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sidi Bel Abbes54% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17DZD 420
$1.98฿64.3
60.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.55DZD 2,857
$18.80฿612
14.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.93DZD 522
$7.75฿252
-49.29%
Cappuccino
$0.37DZD 49.37
$1.92฿62.5
-80.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 81.2
$0.79฿25.79
-22.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29DZD 38.56
$0.36฿11.62
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98DZD 263
$2.21฿72.1
-10.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40DZD 318
$3.66฿119
-34.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04DZD 138
$1.65฿53.8
-36.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07DZD 9.21
$1.63฿53.2
-95.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56DZD 207
$1.19฿38.86
31.09%
Eggs
$1.78DZD 236
$2.00฿65.1
-11.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05DZD 1,199
$15.98฿520
-43.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.42DZD 719
$3.03฿98.5
78.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.29DZD 2,159
$10.86฿354
50.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23DZD 428
$2.76฿90.0
17.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97DZD 394
$1.18฿38.42
151.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78DZD 235
$1.64฿53.5
8.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78DZD 104
$1.52฿49.51
-48.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54DZD 71.8
$1.38฿45.10
-60.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.7
$1.19฿38.84
-57.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 81.1
$0.70฿22.86
-12.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35DZD 46.30
$0.56฿18.13
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77DZD 367
$4.58฿149
-39.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.74DZD 1,291
$16.56฿539
-41.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 172
$1.83฿59.5
-28.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18DZD 289
$3.20฿104
-31.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20DZD 26.16
$0.88฿28.56
-77.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.75DZD 2,352
$18.72฿610
-5.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69DZD 91.3
$1.36฿44.16
-49.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 48.24
$1.34฿43.65
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33DZD 707
$7.84฿256
-32.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 48.46
$1.23฿39.92
-69.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KDZD 4.3M
$21.6K฿704.3K
48.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KDZD 4.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
47.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.84DZD 5,413
$70.5฿2,298
-42.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44DZD 1,251
$13.68฿445
-30.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.81DZD 2,228
$17.45฿568
-3.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.09DZD 2,397
$41.33฿1,346
-56.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.47DZD 725
$5.77฿188
-5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.2DZD 12.3K
$307฿10.0K
-69.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,527DZD 467.4K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.53DZD 4,842
$55.8฿1,817
-34.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.99DZD 6,096
$26.21฿854
75.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3DZD 9,978
$85.8฿2,793
-12.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3DZD 10.1K
$72.2฿2,353
5.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$193DZD 25.6K
$430฿14.0K
-55.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.4K
$239฿7,774
-51.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271DZD 35.9K
$817฿26.6K
-66.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186DZD 24.6K
$511฿16.6K
-63.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,265DZD 167.6K
$1,983฿64.6K
-36.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,137DZD 150.7K
$1,484฿48.3K
-23.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$351DZD 46.5K
$619฿20.2K
-43.33%
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 Sidi Bel Abbes: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $193 in Sidi Bel Abbes 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 76% 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 $22.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Sidi Bel Abbes 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
Sidi Bel Abbes vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Sidi Bel Abbes, 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 Sidi Bel Abbes vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $922 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes 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, Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidi Bel Abbes, 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 Sidi Bel Abbes and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.2 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $615 in Sidi Bel Abbes and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidi Bel Abbes costs $615 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 Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sidi Bel Abbes. 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.
Sidi Bel Abbes vs other spots: cost of living compared