😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $549 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $891 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,233 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 128% more expensive than in Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Sidi Bel Abbes60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$2.42DZD 321
88.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$21.64DZD 2,869
50.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$3.87DZD 512
129.97%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$0.38DZD 49.90
636.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$0.62DZD 82.0
41.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.29DZD 38.79
68.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$1.69DZD 224
41.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$2.94DZD 389
26.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$1.06DZD 141
68.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$0.08DZD 10.41
1700.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.03DZD 136
53.40%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.63DZD 216
30.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$10.16DZD 1,346
96.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$4.37DZD 579
-21.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$14.25DZD 1,889
-20.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$2.76DZD 366
6.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.41DZD 320
-28.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$1.41DZD 187
64.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$0.46DZD 61.4
352.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$0.34DZD 45.49
332.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.67DZD 89.1
102.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.62DZD 82.5
77.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.35DZD 46.11
62.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$1.95DZD 258
118.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$10.36DZD 1,374
77.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$2.22DZD 295
-15.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$0.92DZD 122
217.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$0.21DZD 27.88
957.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$6.22DZD 824
268.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$0.74DZD 97.6
309.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$0.32DZD 41.76
234.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$2.45DZD 325
60.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$0.31DZD 40.88
380.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$16.6KDZD 2.2M
62.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$30.2KDZD 4.0M
-9.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$20.65DZD 2,738
397.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$9.30DZD 1,233
18.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$17.17DZD 2,277
1.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$17.51DZD 2,321
205.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$1.62DZD 214
361.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$57.8DZD 7,664
863.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
$3,333DZD 441.9K
255.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$33.83DZD 4,485
89.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$56.2DZD 7,447
-48.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$83.4DZD 11.1K
15.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$85.7DZD 11.4K
5.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$160DZD 21.2K
355.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$107DZD 14.1K
369.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$294DZD 39.0K
610.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$192DZD 25.5K
528.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$1,452DZD 192.5K
147.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$350DZD 46.4K
43.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.5
-14.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $160 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 44% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $22.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $196 per month, with Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidi Bel Abbes cheaper than Phuket?
Sidi Bel Abbes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 128% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sidi Bel Abbes?
Average pay runs 44% 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $160 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $57.8 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Sidi Bel Abbes?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Sidi Bel Abbes?
At $549 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sidi Bel Abbes but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sidi Bel Abbes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sidi Bel Abbes more family-friendly?
For families, Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.