🙂A single person spends $571 per month in Laghouat vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $915 per month in Laghouat vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,259 per month in Laghouat vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Laghouat is about 33% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Laghouat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Laghouat57% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69DZD 356
$2.04฿68.4
31.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.01DZD 2,781
$18.71฿626
12.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.62DZD 611
$7.86฿263
-41.22%
Cappuccino
$1.05DZD 139
$2.03฿67.9
-48.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64DZD 85.0
$0.80฿26.71
-20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18DZD 23.74
$0.35฿11.71
-48.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98DZD 262
$2.14฿71.7
-7.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32DZD 307
$3.67฿123
-36.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.73฿57.8
-42.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.35DZD 46.91
$1.57฿52.5
-77.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52DZD 334
$1.20฿40.10
110.00%
Eggs
$1.82DZD 240
$1.97฿66.0
-7.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.65DZD 482
$16.23฿543
-77.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.88DZD 910
$3.06฿102
124.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.87DZD 2,232
$10.80฿361
56.20%
Apples(1kg)
$4.35DZD 576
$2.77฿92.6
57.04%
Banana(1kg)
$3.76DZD 498
$1.17฿39.05
221.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71DZD 226
$1.71฿57.1
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13DZD 150
$1.59฿53.3
-28.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68DZD 90.4
$1.39฿46.63
-51.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63DZD 83.7
$1.16฿38.67
-45.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66DZD 86.8
$0.66฿22.11
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32DZD 42.63
$0.52฿17.35
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.31DZD 305
$4.65฿155
-50.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80DZD 900
$17.78฿595
-61.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 172
$1.79฿59.8
-27.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09DZD 276
$3.34฿112
-37.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.13DZD 17.80
$0.91฿30.35
-85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.38DZD 2,300
$18.64฿624
-6.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77DZD 101
$1.41฿47.17
-45.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28DZD 36.71
$1.34฿44.82
-79.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26DZD 829
$8.11฿271
-22.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35DZD 46.30
$1.23฿41.27
-71.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KDZD 3.8M
$21.4K฿717.0K
35.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.4KDZD 7.3M
$21.8K฿730.0K
153.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.14DZD 5,445
$71.3฿2,386
-42.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.13DZD 1,208
$14.01฿469
-34.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.71DZD 2,608
$17.93฿600
9.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.03DZD 2,386
$40.82฿1,365
-55.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.48DZD 725
$5.72฿191
-4.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2DZD 12.5K
$308฿10.3K
-69.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,647DZD 482.7K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-75.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.14DZD 3,724
$55.8฿1,865
-49.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.86DZD 6,202
$26.04฿871
79.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.7DZD 7,508
$84.8฿2,837
-33.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0DZD 9,401
$71.0฿2,375
0.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$127DZD 16.8K
$423฿14.2K
-70.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.0DZD 9,265
$242฿8,110
-71.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$177DZD 23.5K
$797฿26.7K
-77.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117DZD 15.5K
$507฿17.0K
-76.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$443DZD 58.6K
$1,918฿64.2K
-76.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$294DZD 38.9K
$1,464฿49.0K
-79.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laghouat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$354DZD 46.8K
$595฿19.9K
-40.59%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $127 in Laghouat versus $423 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 68% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $218 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 49% more than Laghouat, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $857 per month in Laghouat and $1,279 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 $94.2 per month in Laghouat and $308 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 12% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $571 in Laghouat and $852 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 $571 versus $852 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.