🙂A single person spends $604 per month in Ouargla vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $975 per month in Ouargla vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,346 per month in Ouargla vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ouargla is about 31% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ouargla and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ouargla55% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12DZD 413
$1.98฿64.3
57.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.49DZD 3,114
$18.80฿612
24.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.83DZD 508
$7.75฿252
-50.58%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 97.8
$1.92฿62.5
-61.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60DZD 80.1
$0.79฿25.79
-24.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.83
$0.36฿11.62
-41.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 264
$2.21฿72.1
-9.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 322
$3.66฿119
-33.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 136
$1.65฿53.8
-37.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 17.93
$1.63฿53.2
-91.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59DZD 210
$1.19฿38.86
33.61%
Eggs
$1.84DZD 244
$2.00฿65.1
-8.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73DZD 1,158
$15.98฿520
-45.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27DZD 699
$3.03฿98.5
73.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.77DZD 2,223
$10.86฿354
54.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10DZD 410
$2.76฿90.0
12.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92DZD 387
$1.18฿38.42
147.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78DZD 236
$1.64฿53.5
8.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74DZD 98.7
$1.52฿49.51
-51.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 74.2
$1.38฿45.10
-59.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.2
$1.19฿38.84
-57.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.8
$0.70฿22.86
-12.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.97
$0.56฿18.13
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83DZD 375
$4.58฿149
-38.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.11DZD 810
$16.56฿539
-63.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$1.83฿59.5
-26.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DZD 276
$3.20฿104
-35.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.31
$0.88฿28.56
-71.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.10DZD 2,266
$18.72฿610
-8.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 93.2
$1.36฿44.16
-48.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 48.04
$1.34฿43.65
-73.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.40DZD 716
$7.84฿256
-31.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.40
$1.23฿39.92
-72.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
$21.6K฿704.3K
50.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KDZD 4.5M
$22.5K฿734.3K
49.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.07DZD 5,443
$70.5฿2,298
-41.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.20DZD 1,219
$13.68฿445
-32.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89DZD 2,239
$17.45฿568
-3.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.01DZD 3,050
$41.33฿1,346
-44.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.50DZD 729
$5.77฿188
-4.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.1DZD 12.3K
$307฿10.0K
-69.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,547DZD 470.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-75.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.39DZD 4,824
$55.8฿1,817
-34.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98DZD 5,962
$26.21฿854
71.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7DZD 9,770
$85.8฿2,793
-14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3DZD 10.2K
$72.2฿2,353
6.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$430฿14.0K
-54.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113DZD 15.0K
$239฿7,774
-52.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269DZD 35.7K
$817฿26.6K
-67.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180DZD 23.9K
$511฿16.6K
-64.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,163DZD 154.1K
$1,983฿64.6K
-41.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$978DZD 129.6K
$1,484฿48.3K
-34.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Ouargla 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Ouargla versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Ouargla vs $241 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 44% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $905 per month in Ouargla 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, 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $93.1 per month in Ouargla 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 Ouargla or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $604 in Ouargla and $869 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 $604 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 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 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.