Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Laghouat Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Laghouat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $510 in Laghouat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $843 in Laghouat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,175 in Laghouat, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 86% more than Laghouat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Laghouat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Laghouat 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.77 DZD 500

-44.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$20.94 DZD 2,778

-5.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.76 DZD 632

21.64%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.06 DZD 141

72.64%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.68 DZD 89.8

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.17 DZD 22.14

82.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.50 DZD 199

56.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.16 DZD 287

71.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.03 DZD 136

97.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.15 DZD 20.43

966.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.56 DZD 339

-44.53%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.82 DZD 241

19.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.44 DZD 589

258.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.78 DZD 766

-46.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$15.72 DZD 2,085

-37.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.80 DZD 504

-30.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$3.61 DZD 479

-69.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.12 DZD 281

-23.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.05 DZD 139

45.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.58 DZD 77.1

113.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.58 DZD 76.9

94.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.61 DZD 80.6

21.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.30 DZD 39.35

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.37 DZD 314

80.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$6.99 DZD 927

157.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.27 DZD 169

33.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.07 DZD 274

40.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.11 DZD 14.86

754.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$7.08 DZD 938

680.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.79 DZD 105

55.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.34 DZD 45.66

55.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.26 DZD 830

-61.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.38 DZD 49.99

278.95%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$30.4K DZD 4.0M

-30.24%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$44.8K DZD 5.9M

-39.08%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$38.41 DZD 5,094

69.04%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$6.65 DZD 882

100.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$16.48 DZD 2,185

26.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$14.57 DZD 1,932

177.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.72 DZD 626

42.16%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$60.3 DZD 7,989

1206.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,760 DZD 498.6K

302.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$28.04 DZD 3,719

100.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$34.35 DZD 4,555

-27.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$58.0 DZD 7,689

59.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$72.6 DZD 9,629

3.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$101 DZD 13.3K

380.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$57.1 DZD 7,573

403.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$163 DZD 21.7K

456.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$111 DZD 14.8K

376.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$440 DZD 58.4K

349.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$303 DZD 40.2K

378.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$356 DZD 47.2K

69.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.3

5.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Laghouat: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $101 in Laghouat. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Laghouat. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Laghouat – so Laghouat 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

Chiang Mai vs Laghouat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 86% more than Laghouat, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $765 in Laghouat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laghouat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $60.3 in Laghouat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Laghouat, where all-in costs run around $510, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Laghouat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laghouat costs $510 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Laghouat. 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.