Cost of Living Comparison Between Ouargla and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ouargla and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $554 per month in Ouargla vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $872 per month in Ouargla vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,190 per month in Ouargla vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Ouargla is about 42% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ouargla and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ouargla 60% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.22 DZD 428
$2.10 ฿69.3
53.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.71 DZD 2,217
$19.84 ฿656
-15.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.10 DZD 543
$5.79 ฿191
-29.19%
Cappuccino
$0.69 DZD 91.4
$1.83 ฿60.4
-62.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 DZD 80.7
$0.78 ฿25.61
-21.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.87
$0.31 ฿10.37
-9.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 DZD 197
$2.34 ฿77.2
-36.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 DZD 281
$3.70 ฿122
-42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 DZD 123
$2.03 ฿67.1
-54.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.13 DZD 17.18
$1.60 ฿52.7
-91.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 DZD 153
$1.42 ฿46.75
-19.01%
Eggs
$1.35 DZD 179
$2.18 ฿71.9
-38.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.15 DZD 1,081
$15.91 ฿526
-48.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 DZD 562
$3.07 ฿102
38.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 DZD 1,940
$9.87 ฿326
48.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 DZD 276
$2.63 ฿86.8
-20.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 DZD 391
$1.10 ฿36.19
168.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 DZD 147
$1.63 ฿53.8
-31.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 DZD 123
$1.53 ฿50.6
-39.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 DZD 84.6
$1.24 ฿41.13
-48.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 66.5
$1.13 ฿37.37
-55.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 DZD 100.0
$0.74 ฿24.38
1.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26 DZD 34.25
$0.50 ฿16.48
-48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80 DZD 371
$4.28 ฿141
-34.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.80 DZD 902
$17.97 ฿594
-62.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 DZD 168
$1.70 ฿56.1
-25.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 DZD 259
$2.90 ฿95.7
-32.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 DZD 19.85
$0.94 ฿31.13
-84.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.57 DZD 871
$55.3 ฿1,827
-88.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 DZD 80.6
$1.23 ฿40.76
-50.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 DZD 51.3
$0.53 ฿17.66
-26.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 DZD 651
$2.40 ฿79.3
104.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.37 DZD 48.48
$1.44 ฿47.55
-74.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K DZD 4.9M
$21.2K ฿700.2K
74.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K DZD 4.8M
$27.3K ฿902.1K
31.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.98 DZD 5,169
$64.9 ฿2,145
-39.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91 DZD 1,182
$13.35 ฿441
-33.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.95 DZD 1,717
$20.83 ฿688
-37.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.25 DZD 2,818
$40.42 ฿1,336
-47.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95 ฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.58 DZD 607
$6.71 ฿222
-31.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$103 DZD 13.7K
$787 ฿26.0K
-86.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,407 DZD 451.8K
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-77.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.87 DZD 4,359
$56.2 ฿1,858
-41.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.15 DZD 4,793
$24.95 ฿824
44.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 DZD 9,391
$92.7 ฿3,063
-23.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 DZD 10.1K
$75.1 ฿2,482
1.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$159 DZD 21.1K
$484 ฿16.0K
-67.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$108 DZD 14.3K
$287 ฿9,491
-62.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 DZD 37.4K
$910 ฿30.1K
-68.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$206 DZD 27.3K
$531 ฿17.5K
-61.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,309 DZD 173.6K
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-33.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$605 ฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
5.57
-4.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ouargla: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $159 in Ouargla versus $484 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 $17.00 in Ouargla versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $242 – making Ouargla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 72% 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 $831 per month in Ouargla and $1,426 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 $103 per month in Ouargla and $787 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 35% 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 Ouargla or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouargla, where all-in costs run around $554, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Ouargla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ouargla or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ouargla costs $554 versus $950 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.

Ouargla vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities