🙂A single person spends $615 per month in Ouargla vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $984 per month in Ouargla vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,352 per month in Ouargla vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ouargla is about 27% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ouargla and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ouargla54% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11DZD 411
$1.95฿62.8
59.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.66DZD 3,132
$18.43฿594
28.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.79DZD 502
$7.50฿241
-49.47%
Cappuccino
$0.76DZD 101
$1.93฿62.3
-60.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 80.9
$0.78฿25.08
-21.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.69
$0.32฿10.42
-34.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 264
$2.15฿69.2
-7.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31DZD 306
$3.71฿120
-37.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 137
$1.71฿55.2
-39.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 20.28
$1.56฿50.3
-90.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57DZD 208
$1.18฿38.06
33.05%
Eggs
$1.80DZD 238
$1.98฿63.9
-9.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82DZD 1,167
$16.04฿517
-45.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14DZD 680
$3.17฿102
62.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.47DZD 2,180
$10.94฿353
50.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05DZD 404
$2.63฿84.7
15.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92DZD 386
$1.17฿37.61
149.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70DZD 225
$1.65฿53.0
3.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80DZD 106
$1.54฿49.51
-48.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 78.1
$1.38฿44.34
-57.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.7
$1.17฿37.54
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64DZD 85.3
$0.66฿21.25
-3.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.61
$0.51฿16.55
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70DZD 357
$4.52฿146
-40.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78DZD 897
$18.32฿590
-62.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31DZD 173
$1.80฿57.9
-27.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07DZD 274
$3.18฿102
-34.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.32
$0.90฿28.97
-72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.07DZD 2,258
$19.00฿612
-10.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 93.3
$1.41฿45.50
-49.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37DZD 48.37
$1.31฿42.15
-71.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.21DZD 689
$8.09฿261
-35.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.66
$1.28฿41.08
-73.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KDZD 4.3M
$21.3K฿686.1K
51.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
$21.7K฿699.3K
54.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.30DZD 5,466
$69.2฿2,230
-40.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44DZD 1,250
$13.97฿450
-32.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.27DZD 2,286
$17.95฿578
-3.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.35DZD 3,090
$42.31฿1,363
-44.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66฿214
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.27DZD 698
$5.92฿191
-10.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.9DZD 12.6K
$299฿9,640
-68.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,566DZD 471.9K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-75.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.14DZD 4,782
$56.2฿1,810
-35.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.90DZD 5,942
$26.94฿868
66.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6DZD 9,877
$84.9฿2,735
-12.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1DZD 10.3K
$71.8฿2,314
8.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$435฿14.0K
-55.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115DZD 15.2K
$240฿7,727
-52.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.7K
$798฿25.7K
-65.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183DZD 24.2K
$498฿16.1K
-63.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,995฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,532฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628฿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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Ouargla versus $435 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 in Ouargla versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $203 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 37% 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 $922 per month in Ouargla and $1,267 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 $94.9 per month in Ouargla and $299 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 20% 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 $615 in Ouargla and $845 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 $615 versus $845 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.