Cost of Living Comparison Between Algiers and M'Sila Cost of Living Comparison Between Algiers and M'Sila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $598 in Algiers versus $492 in M'Sila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Algiers versus $799 in M'Sila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,399 in Algiers versus $1,106 in M'Sila.

Living in Algiers is roughly 22% more expensive than in M'Sila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Algiers 57% lower, M'Sila 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 DZD 468

$1.90 DZD 251

85.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.65 DZD 3,800

$19.33 DZD 2,563

48.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 DZD 612

$3.94 DZD 523

17.26%

Cappuccino

$1.16 DZD 154

$0.40 DZD 53.6

190.00%

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

$0.63 DZD 83.0

$0.54 DZD 71.5

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 DZD 40.16

$0.22 DZD 29.24

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 DZD 310

$2.30 DZD 305

1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 DZD 309

$2.37 DZD 315

-1.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 DZD 121

$0.82 DZD 108

10.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 DZD 20.87

$0.13 DZD 17.01

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 DZD 159

Eggs

$1.40 DZD 185

$1.34 DZD 177

4.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 DZD 1,081

$3.06 DZD 406

166.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 DZD 532

$4.15 DZD 550

-3.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 DZD 1,956

$9.31 DZD 1,235

58.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 DZD 292

$2.10 DZD 279

4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 DZD 378

$2.80 DZD 372

1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 DZD 148

$1.17 DZD 155

-4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 DZD 127

$0.58 DZD 77.2

63.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 DZD 83.8

$0.52 DZD 69.2

21.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 DZD 67.4

$0.29 DZD 38.23

75.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 DZD 111

$0.13 DZD 17.17

546.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 DZD 37.20

$0.26 DZD 34.31

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 DZD 421

$2.80 DZD 371

13.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 DZD 936

$6.77 DZD 898

4.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 DZD 176

$1.31 DZD 174

1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 DZD 261

$2.00 DZD 265

-1.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 DZD 50.8

$0.19 DZD 24.55

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.08 DZD 939

$6.37 DZD 844

11.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 DZD 73.1

$0.57 DZD 75.0

-3.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 DZD 59.3

$0.46 DZD 60.9

-2.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 DZD 754

$5.73 DZD 760

-0.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 DZD 45.90

$0.33 DZD 43.19

6.06%

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

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

0.00%

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

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

$35.1K DZD 4.7M

2.31%

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

$45.12 DZD 5,983

$24.03 DZD 3,187

87.77%

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

$10.91 DZD 1,447

$7.98 DZD 1,058

36.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 DZD 1,714

$12.84 DZD 1,703

0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.24 DZD 3,480

$20.73 DZD 2,749

26.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.34 DZD 3,759

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 DZD 619

$4.64 DZD 615

0.65%

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

$570 DZD 75.6K

$119 DZD 15.8K

377.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,496 DZD 861.5K

$6,564 DZD 870.5K

-1.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.79 DZD 4,480

$33.62 DZD 4,458

0.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.54 DZD 4,713

$35.79 DZD 4,746

-0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 DZD 9,669

$71.6 DZD 9,497

1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.3 DZD 10.9K

$84.4 DZD 11.2K

-2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 DZD 22.7K

$157 DZD 20.8K

9.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 DZD 17.9K

$109 DZD 14.5K

23.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 DZD 60.9K

$282 DZD 37.4K

63.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 DZD 33.2K

$214 DZD 28.4K

17.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,552 DZD 338.5K

$1,325 DZD 175.8K

92.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,408 DZD 186.7K

$654 DZD 86.7K

115.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$337 DZD 44.7K

$249 DZD 33.0K

35.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.3

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Algiers: September 5, 2026

Last update for M'Sila: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $171 in Algiers and $157 in M'Sila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Algiers pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Algiers vs $19.00 in M'Sila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $142 per month, with M'Sila cheaper across the board.

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

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

M'Sila is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Algiers, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $171 in Algiers versus $157 in M'Sila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in M'Sila – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $29.00 in Algiers. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $598 per month in Algiers versus $492 in M'Sila – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though M'Sila gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, M'Sila is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Algiers, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Algiers and M'Sila are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find M'Sila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Algiers. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.