Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidi Bel Abbes and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidi Bel Abbes and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $952 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,289 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sidi Bel Abbes is about 28% 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 Abbes 54% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.28 DZD 434
$2.04 ฿68.2
60.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.15 DZD 2,796
$18.71 ฿624
13.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.93 DZD 519
$7.86 ฿262
-50.00%
Cappuccino
$0.37 DZD 49.31
$2.03 ฿67.7
-81.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 DZD 79.3
$0.80 ฿26.64
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 DZD 35.53
$0.35 ฿11.68
-22.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 DZD 261
$2.14 ฿71.5
-7.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 DZD 310
$3.67 ฿122
-36.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 DZD 135
$1.73 ฿57.6
-41.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 DZD 9.45
$1.57 ฿52.4
-95.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 DZD 207
$1.20 ฿39.99
30.83%
Eggs
$1.81 DZD 239
$1.97 ฿65.8
-8.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.12 DZD 1,205
$16.23 ฿541
-43.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.18 DZD 685
$3.06 ฿102
69.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.64 DZD 2,200
$10.80 ฿360
54.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 DZD 409
$2.77 ฿92.3
11.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 DZD 380
$1.17 ฿38.94
145.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 DZD 224
$1.71 ฿57.0
-1.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 DZD 106
$1.59 ฿53.2
-49.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 DZD 73.5
$1.39 ฿46.51
-59.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 65.5
$1.16 ฿38.56
-56.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 DZD 86.7
$0.66 ฿22.05
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 DZD 49.56
$0.52 ฿17.31
-28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73 DZD 361
$4.65 ฿155
-41.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.09 DZD 1,202
$17.78 ฿593
-48.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 DZD 179
$1.79 ฿59.6
-24.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 DZD 283
$3.34 ฿111
-35.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 DZD 29.96
$0.91 ฿30.27
-74.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.09 DZD 2,259
$18.64 ฿622
-8.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 DZD 97.5
$1.41 ฿47.04
-47.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 DZD 48.31
$1.34 ฿44.70
-72.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.35 DZD 707
$8.11 ฿270
-34.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.34 DZD 44.82
$1.23 ฿41.16
-72.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K DZD 4.2M
$21.4K ฿715.1K
49.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K DZD 4.5M
$21.8K ฿728.0K
56.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.09 DZD 5,300
$71.3 ฿2,379
-43.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.37 DZD 1,238
$14.01 ฿467
-33.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.83 DZD 2,226
$17.93 ฿598
-6.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.04 DZD 2,385
$40.82 ฿1,362
-55.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.42 DZD 717
$5.72 ฿191
-5.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.2 DZD 12.6K
$308 ฿10.3K
-69.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,660 DZD 483.9K
$14.7K ฿489.7K
-75.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.91 DZD 4,880
$55.8 ฿1,860
-33.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.81 DZD 5,925
$26.04 ฿869
72.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 DZD 10.0K
$84.8 ฿2,829
-10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3 DZD 10.4K
$71.0 ฿2,368
10.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 DZD 25.7K
$423 ฿14.1K
-54.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$116 DZD 15.4K
$242 ฿8,088
-52.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 DZD 36.3K
$797 ฿26.6K
-65.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 DZD 23.9K
$507 ฿16.9K
-64.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,192 DZD 157.6K
$1,918 ฿64.0K
-37.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,281 DZD 169.4K
$1,464 ฿48.8K
-12.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$350 DZD 46.2K
$595 ฿19.9K
-41.23%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Sidi Bel Abbes 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 70% 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 $21.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $244 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 39% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $921 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $95.2 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 16% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $614 in Sidi Bel Abbes and $852 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 $614 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 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 to 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.

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