🙂A single person spends $605 per month in Ouargla vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $962 per month in Ouargla vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,319 per month in Ouargla vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ouargla is about 29% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ouargla and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ouargla55% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12DZD 413
$2.04฿68.4
52.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.79DZD 3,149
$18.71฿626
27.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.96DZD 524
$7.86฿263
-49.62%
Cappuccino
$0.73DZD 96.8
$2.03฿67.9
-64.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.4
$0.80฿26.71
-28.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.75
$0.35฿11.71
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 263
$2.14฿71.7
-7.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39DZD 317
$3.67฿123
-34.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04DZD 138
$1.73฿57.8
-39.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 18.12
$1.57฿52.5
-91.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59DZD 210
$1.20฿40.10
32.50%
Eggs
$1.80DZD 238
$1.97฿66.0
-8.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.17DZD 1,213
$16.23฿543
-43.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41DZD 716
$3.06฿102
76.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.71DZD 2,212
$10.80฿361
54.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09DZD 409
$2.77฿92.6
11.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86DZD 378
$1.17฿39.05
144.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 227
$1.71฿57.1
0.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79DZD 104
$1.59฿53.3
-50.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 73.5
$1.39฿46.63
-59.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46DZD 60.7
$1.16฿38.67
-60.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.8
$0.66฿22.11
-7.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.17
$0.52฿17.35
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71DZD 359
$4.65฿155
-41.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.08DZD 805
$17.78฿595
-65.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$1.79฿59.8
-25.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DZD 284
$3.34฿112
-35.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.35
$0.91฿30.35
-72.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.67DZD 2,338
$18.64฿624
-5.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66DZD 87.3
$1.41฿47.17
-53.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 48.25
$1.34฿44.82
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.17DZD 685
$8.11฿271
-36.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.06
$1.23฿41.27
-70.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KDZD 4.3M
$21.4K฿717.0K
53.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KDZD 4.4M
$21.8K฿730.0K
52.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.44DZD 5,352
$71.3฿2,386
-43.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.28DZD 1,228
$14.01฿469
-33.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.12DZD 2,266
$17.93฿600
-4.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.22DZD 3,073
$40.82฿1,365
-43.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.50DZD 728
$5.72฿191
-3.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.6DZD 12.3K
$308฿10.3K
-69.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,603DZD 476.8K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-75.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.59DZD 4,842
$55.8฿1,865
-34.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.57DZD 6,031
$26.04฿871
75.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6DZD 10.0K
$84.8฿2,837
-10.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2DZD 10.2K
$71.0฿2,375
8.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196DZD 25.9K
$423฿14.2K
-53.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.4K
$242฿8,110
-51.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.6K
$797฿26.7K
-65.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185DZD 24.5K
$507฿17.0K
-63.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,259DZD 166.7K
$1,918฿64.2K
-34.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122DZD 148.5K
$1,464฿49.0K
-23.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
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 Ouargla: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Ouargla 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Ouargla versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Ouargla vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Ouargla 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
Ouargla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ouargla or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 41% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ouargla and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Ouargla 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, Ouargla or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Ouargla and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $92.6 per month in Ouargla 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 Ouargla or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% 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 $800/month in Ouargla or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $605 in Ouargla and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ouargla or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ouargla costs $605 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 Ouargla 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 Ouargla or to Chiang Mai?
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.