🙂A single person spends $572 per month in Laghouat vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $916 per month in Laghouat vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,260 per month in Laghouat vs $1,855 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 – Laghouat57% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74DZD 363
$1.98฿64.3
38.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.68DZD 2,873
$18.80฿612
15.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67DZD 619
$7.75฿252
-39.74%
Cappuccino
$1.06DZD 141
$1.92฿62.5
-44.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65DZD 85.6
$0.79฿25.79
-17.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18DZD 23.48
$0.36฿11.62
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92DZD 254
$2.21฿72.1
-13.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41DZD 320
$3.66฿119
-34.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.65฿53.8
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33DZD 43.53
$1.63฿53.2
-79.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.46DZD 326
$1.19฿38.86
106.72%
Eggs
$1.89DZD 251
$2.00฿65.1
-5.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.80DZD 504
$15.98฿520
-76.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.84DZD 907
$3.03฿98.5
125.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.78DZD 2,225
$10.86฿354
54.51%
Apples(1kg)
$4.25DZD 564
$2.76฿90.0
53.99%
Banana(1kg)
$3.86DZD 511
$1.18฿38.42
227.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69DZD 224
$1.64฿53.5
3.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18DZD 156
$1.52฿49.51
-22.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69DZD 91.5
$1.38฿45.10
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68DZD 90.0
$1.19฿38.84
-42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71DZD 93.6
$0.70฿22.86
1.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32DZD 42.61
$0.56฿18.13
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38DZD 315
$4.58฿149
-48.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.88DZD 911
$16.56฿539
-58.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28DZD 170
$1.83฿59.5
-30.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17DZD 287
$3.20฿104
-32.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.12DZD 15.63
$0.88฿28.56
-86.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.38DZD 2,304
$18.72฿610
-7.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76DZD 100
$1.36฿44.16
-44.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30DZD 40.35
$1.34฿43.65
-77.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.27DZD 831
$7.84฿256
-20.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35DZD 45.91
$1.23฿39.92
-71.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5KDZD 3.9M
$21.6K฿704.3K
36.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.9KDZD 7.5M
$22.5K฿734.3K
152.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.65DZD 5,388
$70.5฿2,298
-42.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.24DZD 1,225
$13.68฿445
-32.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.36DZD 2,566
$17.45฿568
10.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.88DZD 2,370
$41.33฿1,346
-56.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.44DZD 721
$5.77฿188
-5.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.5DZD 12.5K
$307฿10.0K
-69.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,544DZD 469.7K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.93DZD 3,835
$55.8฿1,817
-48.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.21DZD 6,258
$26.21฿854
80.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.7DZD 7,644
$85.8฿2,793
-32.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9DZD 9,259
$72.2฿2,353
-3.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126DZD 16.7K
$430฿14.0K
-70.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.3DZD 9,452
$239฿7,774
-70.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$174DZD 23.0K
$817฿26.6K
-78.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.4K
$511฿16.6K
-77.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$448DZD 59.4K
$1,983฿64.6K
-77.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$297DZD 39.4K
$1,484฿48.3K
-79.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$354DZD 46.9K
$619฿20.2K
-42.86%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Laghouat versus $430 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 75% 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 $22.00 in Laghouat versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $218 in Laghouat vs $241 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 52% 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 $858 per month in Laghouat and $1,303 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 $94.5 per month in Laghouat and $307 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 10% 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 $572 in Laghouat and $869 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 $572 versus $869 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.