😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $519 in Laghouat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $848 in Laghouat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $1,177 in Laghouat.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 143% more expensive than in Laghouat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Laghouat62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$3.73DZD 495
18.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$21.07DZD 2,793
66.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$4.75DZD 629
88.63%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$1.02DZD 135
194.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$0.63DZD 83.3
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.17DZD 23.09
176.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$1.65DZD 218
45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$2.30DZD 305
63.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.03DZD 137
76.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$0.15DZD 19.23
846.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$2.57DZD 341
-39.69%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.91DZD 253
11.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$4.49DZD 596
340.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$5.86DZD 777
-40.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$15.22DZD 2,018
-27.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$3.96DZD 525
-26.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$3.66DZD 485
-54.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$2.08DZD 276
9.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$1.09DZD 144
92.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$0.60DZD 79.5
145.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$0.62DZD 81.6
127.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$0.55DZD 72.5
98.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$0.32DZD 42.57
68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$2.31DZD 306
93.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$7.03DZD 931
166.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$1.28DZD 169
43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$2.09DZD 278
41.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
$0.11DZD 14.14
1954.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
$5.32DZD 705
333.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$0.80DZD 106
280.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$0.34DZD 45.61
220.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$6.12DZD 811
-37.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$0.34DZD 45.45
338.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$30.2KDZD 4.0M
-9.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$44.6KDZD 5.9M
-38.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$38.59DZD 5,115
163.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$6.41DZD 850
75.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$16.79DZD 2,226
5.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
$14.12DZD 1,871
283.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$4.72DZD 626
66.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$60.9DZD 8,071
847.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$4,302DZD 570.1K
170.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$28.82DZD 3,820
126.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$34.36DZD 4,554
-15.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$57.6DZD 7,632
72.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$72.3DZD 9,575
24.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
$99.7DZD 13.2K
658.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
$56.7DZD 7,516
759.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
$162DZD 21.5K
1184.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
$110DZD 14.6K
995.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
$442DZD 58.6K
711.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
$302DZD 40.0K
765.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Laghouat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
$356DZD 47.2K
41.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.3
5.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Laghouat: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $99.7 in Laghouat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Laghouat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $207 per month, with Laghouat cheaper across the board.
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
Phuket vs Laghouat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laghouat cheaper than Phuket?
Laghouat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Laghouat?
Average pay runs 41% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Laghouat?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Phuket versus $99.7 in Laghouat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Laghouat?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $519 in Laghouat – a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Laghouat runs roughly 334% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Laghouat?
At $519 in Laghouat versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Laghouat but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Laghouat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Laghouat more family-friendly?
For families, Laghouat is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Laghouat?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Laghouat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Laghouat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.