🙂A single person spends $558 per month in Laghouat vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $908 per month in Laghouat vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,258 per month in Laghouat vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Laghouat is about 34% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Laghouat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Laghouat58% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.70DZD 358
$1.95฿62.8
38.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.67DZD 2,868
$18.43฿594
17.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.82DZD 637
$7.50฿241
-35.73%
Cappuccino
$1.05DZD 139
$1.93฿62.3
-45.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70DZD 92.2
$0.78฿25.08
-10.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18DZD 24.26
$0.32฿10.42
-43.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91DZD 253
$2.15฿69.2
-11.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42DZD 320
$3.71฿120
-34.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02DZD 135
$1.71฿55.2
-40.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33DZD 43.12
$1.56฿50.3
-78.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48DZD 328
$1.18฿38.06
110.17%
Eggs
$1.88DZD 249
$1.98฿63.9
-5.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.79DZD 502
$16.04฿517
-76.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.82DZD 903
$3.17฿102
115.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.33DZD 2,294
$10.94฿353
58.41%
Apples(1kg)
$4.21DZD 558
$2.63฿84.7
60.08%
Banana(1kg)
$3.98DZD 526
$1.17฿37.61
240.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77DZD 234
$1.65฿53.0
7.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14DZD 151
$1.54฿49.51
-25.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70DZD 93.0
$1.38฿44.34
-49.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66DZD 87.5
$1.17฿37.54
-43.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67DZD 88.8
$0.66฿21.25
1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.36
$0.51฿16.55
-41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29DZD 303
$4.52฿146
-49.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.92DZD 916
$18.32฿590
-62.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31DZD 173
$1.80฿57.9
-27.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16DZD 285
$3.18฿102
-32.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11DZD 15.19
$0.90฿28.97
-87.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.31DZD 2,290
$19.00฿612
-8.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76DZD 100
$1.41฿45.50
-46.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28DZD 36.75
$1.31฿42.15
-78.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18DZD 817
$8.09฿261
-23.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 49.00
$1.28฿41.08
-71.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KDZD 3.9M
$21.3K฿686.1K
39.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.7KDZD 7.5M
$21.7K฿699.3K
161.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.19DZD 5,451
$69.2฿2,230
-40.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.46DZD 1,252
$13.97฿450
-32.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79DZD 2,619
$17.95฿578
10.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.64DZD 2,334
$42.31฿1,363
-58.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66฿214
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.45DZD 721
$5.92฿191
-7.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2DZD 12.5K
$299฿9,640
-68.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,605DZD 477.1K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-75.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.60DZD 3,784
$56.2฿1,810
-49.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50DZD 6,021
$26.94฿868
68.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.2DZD 7,565
$84.9฿2,735
-32.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7DZD 9,218
$71.8฿2,314
-3.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125DZD 16.6K
$435฿14.0K
-71.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.6DZD 9,476
$240฿7,727
-70.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178DZD 23.6K
$798฿25.7K
-77.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118DZD 15.6K
$498฿16.1K
-76.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$454DZD 60.1K
$1,995฿64.3K
-77.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$310DZD 41.0K
$1,532฿49.4K
-79.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$361DZD 47.8K
$628฿20.2K
-42.52%
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 Laghouat: April 21, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $125 in Laghouat versus $435 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 74% 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 $22 in Laghouat versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Laghouat vs $244 in Chiang Mai – 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
Laghouat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 51% more than Laghouat, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 Laghouat vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $837 per month in Laghouat and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Laghouat and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $94.2 per month in Laghouat and $299 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 Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 11% 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 $1,000/month in Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $558 in Laghouat and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laghouat costs $558 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Laghouat 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 Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
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.