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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $554 in Ouargla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $872 in Ouargla, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,190 in Ouargla, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Ouargla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ouargla are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ouargla 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$3.22 DZD 428

-34.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$16.71 DZD 2,217

18.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.10 DZD 543

41.22%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$0.69 DZD 91.4

165.22%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.61 DZD 80.7

27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.28 DZD 36.87

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.48 DZD 197

58.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.12 DZD 281

74.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.93 DZD 123

118.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.13 DZD 17.18

1130.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.15 DZD 153

23.48%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.35 DZD 179

61.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.15 DZD 1,081

95.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.24 DZD 562

-27.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$14.63 DZD 1,940

-32.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.08 DZD 276

26.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.95 DZD 391

-62.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.11 DZD 147

46.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.93 DZD 123

64.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.64 DZD 84.6

93.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.50 DZD 66.5

126.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.75 DZD 100.0

-1.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.26 DZD 34.25

92.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.80 DZD 371

52.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$6.80 DZD 902

164.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.27 DZD 168

33.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.95 DZD 259

48.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.15 DZD 19.85

526.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$6.57 DZD 871

741.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.61 DZD 80.6

101.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.39 DZD 51.3

35.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.91 DZD 651

-51.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$0.37 DZD 48.48

289.19%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$37.0K DZD 4.9M

-42.66%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$35.8K DZD 4.8M

-23.82%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$38.98 DZD 5,169

66.57%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$8.91 DZD 1,182

49.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$12.95 DZD 1,717

60.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$21.25 DZD 2,818

90.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.58 DZD 607

46.51%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$103 DZD 13.7K

663.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$3,407 DZD 451.8K

343.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$32.87 DZD 4,359

71.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$36.15 DZD 4,793

-30.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$70.8 DZD 9,391

30.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$75.9 DZD 10.1K

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$159 DZD 21.1K

204.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$108 DZD 14.3K

165.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$282 DZD 37.4K

222.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$206 DZD 27.3K

157.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,309 DZD 173.6K

51.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

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 Ouargla: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $159 in Ouargla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $17.00 in Ouargla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $180 – making Ouargla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ouargla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Ouargla, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $831 in Ouargla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ouargla, 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 $103 in Ouargla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouargla, where all-in costs run around $554, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ouargla 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. Ouargla costs $554 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 Ouargla. 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.