🙂A single person spends $541 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $889 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,236 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sidi Bel Abbes is about 42% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Sidi Bel Abbes and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sidi Bel Abbes60% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38DZD 318
$2.08฿69.5
14.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.59DZD 2,883
$19.61฿655
10.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.00DZD 535
$5.67฿189
-29.45%
Cappuccino
$0.37DZD 49.78
$1.81฿60.3
-79.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64DZD 86.0
$0.77฿25.65
-16.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.33
$0.35฿11.53
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76DZD 235
$2.21฿73.9
-20.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04DZD 406
$3.79฿127
-19.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01DZD 135
$2.05฿68.4
-50.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.09DZD 12.16
$1.51฿50.6
-94.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06DZD 141
$1.40฿46.69
-24.29%
Eggs
$1.60DZD 214
$2.26฿75.4
-29.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.99DZD 1,334
$16.19฿540
-38.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31DZD 576
$2.90฿96.7
48.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.82DZD 1,847
$9.42฿314
46.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71DZD 363
$2.68฿89.4
1.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41DZD 322
$1.09฿36.37
121.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46DZD 195
$1.62฿54.0
-9.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45DZD 60.1
$1.46฿48.74
-69.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34DZD 45.92
$1.28฿42.65
-73.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64DZD 85.8
$1.06฿35.31
-39.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66DZD 88.7
$0.72฿23.94
-8.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37DZD 48.88
$0.53฿17.56
-30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91DZD 255
$4.23฿141
-54.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.22DZD 1,365
$18.29฿611
-44.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26DZD 302
$1.63฿54.4
38.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95DZD 127
$2.90฿96.8
-67.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20DZD 26.98
$0.88฿29.32
-77.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.73DZD 899
$53.8฿1,795
-87.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74DZD 99.1
$1.17฿39.14
-36.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32DZD 42.44
$0.58฿19.30
-44.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.35DZD 314
$2.39฿79.6
-1.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.13
$1.45฿48.41
-77.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5KDZD 2.2M
$21.0K฿701.4K
-21.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7KDZD 4.1M
$26.4K฿882.0K
16.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.35DZD 2,719
$63.7฿2,125
-68.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.95DZD 1,195
$12.89฿430
-30.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.44DZD 2,330
$20.52฿685
-15.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.54DZD 2,343
$39.02฿1,302
-55.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$1.55DZD 208
$6.58฿220
-76.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.6DZD 7,697
$784฿26.2K
-92.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,357DZD 448.5K
$14.7K฿489.8K
-77.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.75DZD 4,642
$55.1฿1,840
-36.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7DZD 7,575
$24.74฿826
129.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2DZD 11.1K
$94.1฿3,142
-11.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2DZD 11.4K
$74.0฿2,469
15.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$157DZD 21.0K
$490฿16.4K
-67.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106DZD 14.1K
$288฿9,620
-63.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$295DZD 39.4K
$891฿29.8K
-66.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217DZD 29.0K
$521฿17.4K
-58.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,103DZD 147.4K
$1,974฿65.9K
-44.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$357DZD 47.7K
$602฿20.1K
-40.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.57
16.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $157 in Sidi Bel Abbes 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 68% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 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 72% more than Sidi Bel Abbes, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $812 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes 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, 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 $57.6 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 Sidi Bel Abbes or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Bel Abbes, where all-in costs run around $541, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sidi Bel Abbes 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, Sidi Bel Abbes or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidi Bel Abbes costs $541 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 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.
Sidi Bel Abbes vs other spots: cost of living compared