🙂A single person spends $510 per month in Laghouat vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $843 per month in Laghouat vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,175 per month in Laghouat vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Laghouat is about 46% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Laghouat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Laghouat63% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.77DZD 500
$2.10฿69.3
79.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.94DZD 2,778
$19.84฿656
5.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.76DZD 632
$5.79฿191
-17.79%
Cappuccino
$1.06DZD 141
$1.83฿60.4
-42.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68DZD 89.8
$0.78฿25.61
-12.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17DZD 22.14
$0.31฿10.37
-45.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50DZD 199
$2.34฿77.2
-35.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16DZD 287
$3.70฿122
-41.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 136
$2.03฿67.1
-49.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 20.43
$1.60฿52.7
-90.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56DZD 339
$1.42฿46.75
80.28%
Eggs
$1.82DZD 241
$2.18฿71.9
-16.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.44DZD 589
$15.91฿526
-72.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.78DZD 766
$3.07฿102
88.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.72DZD 2,085
$9.87฿326
59.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.80DZD 504
$2.63฿86.8
44.49%
Banana(1kg)
$3.61DZD 479
$1.10฿36.19
228.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12DZD 281
$1.63฿53.8
30.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05DZD 139
$1.53฿50.6
-31.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58DZD 77.1
$1.24฿41.13
-53.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58DZD 76.9
$1.13฿37.37
-48.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.6
$0.74฿24.38
-17.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.35
$0.50฿16.48
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37DZD 314
$4.28฿141
-44.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.99DZD 927
$17.97฿594
-61.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27DZD 169
$1.70฿56.1
-25.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07DZD 274
$2.90฿95.7
-28.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11DZD 14.86
$0.94฿31.13
-88.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.08DZD 938
$55.3฿1,827
-87.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79DZD 105
$1.23฿40.76
-35.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 45.66
$0.53฿17.66
-35.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26DZD 830
$2.40฿79.3
160.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38DZD 49.99
$1.44฿47.55
-73.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KDZD 4.0M
$21.2K฿700.2K
43.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.8KDZD 5.9M
$27.3K฿902.1K
64.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.41DZD 5,094
$64.9฿2,145
-40.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.65DZD 882
$13.35฿441
-50.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.48DZD 2,185
$20.83฿688
-20.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.57DZD 1,932
$40.42฿1,336
-63.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.72DZD 626
$6.71฿222
-29.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.3DZD 7,989
$787฿26.0K
-92.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,760DZD 498.6K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-75.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.04DZD 3,719
$56.2฿1,858
-50.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.35DZD 4,555
$24.95฿824
37.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.0DZD 7,689
$92.7฿3,063
-37.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6DZD 9,629
$75.1฿2,482
-3.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101DZD 13.3K
$484฿16.0K
-79.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$57.1DZD 7,573
$287฿9,491
-80.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$163DZD 21.7K
$910฿30.1K
-82.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111DZD 14.8K
$531฿17.5K
-79.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$440DZD 58.4K
$1,980฿65.4K
-77.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$303DZD 40.2K
$1,451฿47.9K
-79.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$356DZD 47.2K
$605฿20.0K
-41.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
5.57
-4.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laghouat: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Laghouat versus $484 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 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 $21.00 in Laghouat versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Laghouat vs $242 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 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Laghouat and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $765 per month in Laghouat and $1,426 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $60.3 per month in Laghouat and $787 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 in Chiang Mai?
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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Laghouat or in Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Laghouat or Chiang Mai?
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.
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 to 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.