Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and M'Sila

For one person, living is cheaper in M'Sila: $459 a month against $1,771 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,771
/mo nomad
M'Sila
🇩🇿 Algeria
$459
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in M'Sila

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in M'Sila actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,771 in Athens versus $459 in M'Sila.

  • Athens $1,771
  • M'Sila $459

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,736 in Athens versus $753 in M'Sila.

  • Athens $2,736
  • M'Sila $753

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,701 in Athens versus $1,046 in M'Sila.

  • Athens $3,701
  • M'Sila $1,046

Living in Athens is roughly 286% more expensive than in M'Sila, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 31% above, M'Sila is 66% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83 €14.97
$1.88 DZD 252
795.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2 €60.7
$18.82 DZD 2,520
262.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.43 €10.17
$3.70 DZD 496
208.92%
Cappuccino
$4.06 €3.61
$0.35 DZD 47.31
1060.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.44
$0.51 DZD 67.8
437.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 €0.47
$0.20 DZD 26.58
165.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.69 €5.06
$2.17 DZD 290
162.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68 €5.06
$2.17 DZD 291
161.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 €1.64
$0.78 DZD 104
137.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 €1.28
$0.13 DZD 16.96
1007.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.82 €2.51
$1.15 DZD 155
145.22%
Eggs
$4.86 €4.32
$1.19 DZD 160
308.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.27 €13.58
$2.92 DZD 391
422.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.36 €9.21
$3.94 DZD 528
162.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.10 €16.99
$9.30 DZD 1,245
105.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 €1.98
$2.09 DZD 280
6.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 €1.71
$2.68 DZD 359
-28.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 €1.25
$1.07 DZD 143
31.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.82
$0.55 DZD 74.0
270.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.50 DZD 67.0
110.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 €1.04
$0.27 DZD 35.63
333.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 €0.96
$0.12 DZD 16.21
800.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.75
$0.25 DZD 33.34
236.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49 €4.89
$2.71 DZD 363
102.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 €9.05
$6.75 DZD 904
50.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.90
$1.27 DZD 171
67.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.86 DZD 249
22.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 €1.22
$0.24 DZD 32.27
470.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.71 €26.43
$6.53 DZD 874
354.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.39 €3.90
$0.55 DZD 73.4
698.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 €0.89
$0.43 DZD 57.5
132.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.63 €14.79
$5.69 DZD 762
192.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.38 €2.11
$0.33 DZD 44.76
621.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K €25.3K
$34.9K DZD 4.7M
-18.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K €24.2K
$34.6K DZD 4.6M
-21.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$203 €181
$23.25 DZD 3,112
774.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.79 €23.83
$7.50 DZD 1,004
257.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.16 €26.82
$12.44 DZD 1,665
142.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 €47.74
$22.17 DZD 2,968
142.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.40 €23.48
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.59 €9.42
$4.36 DZD 584
142.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$566 €504
$115 DZD 15.4K
393.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K €11.4K
$6,439 DZD 862.1K
99.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1 €79.3
$32.63 DZD 4,368
173.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48 €36.01
$33.92 DZD 4,541
19.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.3
$67.7 DZD 9,064
53.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$79.9 DZD 10.7K
55.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 €648
$144 DZD 19.2K
407.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$647 €576
$92.2 DZD 12.3K
601.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 €1,181
$270 DZD 36.1K
391.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$192 DZD 25.7K
507.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,024 €3,579
$961 DZD 128.7K
318.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,483 €3,098
$623 DZD 83.4K
459.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
M'Sila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,240 €1,103
$243 DZD 32.5K
411.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
5.3
-15.47%

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

Last update for Athens: October 20, 2026

Last update for M'Sila: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$647
M'Sila
$92 85.8% $555
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$312
M'Sila
$138 56% $175
Eating Out
Athens
$271
M'Sila
$48 82.1% $222
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$260
M'Sila
$43 83.4% $217
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$161
M'Sila
$96 40.1% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
M'Sila
$31 58.7% $44
Getting Around
Athens
$45
M'Sila
$10 77.1% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Athens and $144 in M'Sila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 411% 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: $68.0 in Athens vs $19.00 in M'Sila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $138 per month, with M'Sila cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇩🇿 M'Sila
🕒 Local time
22:58 10:58 PM
20:58 8:58 PM
2 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
156,647
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens M'Sila 1,720 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • M'Sila

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Athens vs M'Sila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or M'Sila?
M'Sila wins on cost – living expenses run 286% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making M'Sila the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in M'Sila?
Average pay runs 411% higher in Athens, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to M'Sila?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Athens versus $144 in M'Sila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in M'Sila?
Dining out is cheaper in M'Sila – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $68.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to M'Sila?
All in, you'll spend $1,771 per month in Athens versus $459 in M'Sila – a 286% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Athens or in M'Sila?
At $459 in M'Sila versus $1,771 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in M'Sila but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes M'Sila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or M'Sila?
Both work as nomad bases, but M'Sila delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $459 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes M'Sila hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to M'Sila?
Safety-wise, Athens 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find M'Sila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 286% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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