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 $610 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $957 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,304 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,857 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
$3.26 DZD 431
$1.96 ฿64.0
66.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.28 DZD 2,820
$18.81 ฿615
13.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.80 DZD 503
$7.92 ฿259
-52.02%
Cappuccino
$0.38 DZD 49.74
$1.91 ฿62.6
-80.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 DZD 80.2
$0.84 ฿27.41
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 DZD 35.59
$0.35 ฿11.51
-22.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 DZD 260
$2.21 ฿72.1
-11.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 DZD 323
$3.80 ฿124
-35.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 DZD 130
$1.64 ฿53.5
-40.24%
White Bread (500g)
$0.09 DZD 11.59
$1.62 ฿53.1
-94.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 DZD 208
$1.18 ฿38.62
33.05%
Eggs
$1.84 DZD 244
$2.01 ฿65.8
-8.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.83 DZD 1,170
$15.89 ฿520
-44.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.35 DZD 709
$3.01 ฿98.5
77.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.26 DZD 2,155
$10.77 ฿352
50.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 DZD 419
$2.61 ฿85.5
21.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 DZD 372
$1.22 ฿39.88
129.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 DZD 227
$1.70 ฿55.7
0.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 DZD 99.8
$1.58 ฿51.5
-52.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 DZD 74.0
$1.32 ฿43.14
-57.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 66.0
$1.17 ฿38.23
-57.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 DZD 79.6
$0.67 ฿21.98
-10.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 DZD 49.45
$0.56 ฿18.32
-33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68 DZD 355
$4.53 ฿148
-40.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.73 DZD 1,289
$18.20 ฿595
-46.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 DZD 177
$1.83 ฿60.0
-26.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 DZD 285
$3.23 ฿106
-33.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 DZD 25.39
$0.89 ฿29.00
-78.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.66 DZD 2,340
$19.38 ฿634
-8.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 DZD 95.8
$1.35 ฿44.20
-46.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 DZD 44.16
$1.35 ฿44.05
-75.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 DZD 682
$8.25 ฿270
-37.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 DZD 48.16
$1.27 ฿41.64
-71.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K DZD 4.4M
$21.2K ฿691.8K
56.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K DZD 4.5M
$22.5K ฿735.3K
50.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.32 DZD 5,342
$70.2 ฿2,294
-42.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.19 DZD 1,218
$13.77 ฿450
-33.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.26 DZD 2,287
$17.60 ฿575
-1.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.10 DZD 2,399
$41.57 ฿1,360
-56.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60 ฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 DZD 724
$5.78 ฿189
-5.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 DZD 12.6K
$306 ฿10.0K
-69.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,530 DZD 467.8K
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-76.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.78 DZD 4,874
$54.4 ฿1,778
-32.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.65 DZD 6,048
$26.14 ฿855
74.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 DZD 9,788
$84.5 ฿2,764
-12.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.1 DZD 10.1K
$69.4 ฿2,270
9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$191 DZD 25.3K
$424 ฿13.9K
-54.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$116 DZD 15.3K
$238 ฿7,788
-51.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 DZD 36.3K
$825 ฿27.0K
-66.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 DZD 24.3K
$515 ฿16.8K
-64.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidi Bel Abbes
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$363 DZD 48.0K
$635 ฿20.8K
-42.91%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $191 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $424 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 75% 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 $243 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 40% 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 $915 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes and $1,278 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 $94.8 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes and $306 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 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $610 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 $610 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 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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