Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Setif and Biskra

For one person, living is cheaper in Setif: $412 a month against $536 in Biskra, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Setif
🇩🇿 Algeria
$412
/mo nomad
Biskra
🇩🇿 Algeria
$536
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Setif and in Biskra

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Setif and in Biskra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $412 per month in Setif vs $536 in Biskra, rent included.

  • Setif $412
  • Biskra $536

A couple spends around $683 per month in Setif vs $862 in Biskra, rent included.

  • Setif $683
  • Biskra $862

A family of three spends $953 per month in Setif vs $1,188 in Biskra, rent included.

  • Setif $953
  • Biskra $1,188

Setif is about 23% cheaper than Biskra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Setif and Biskra are more affordable than the global median – Setif 70% lower, Biskra 60% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11 DZD 416
$2.75 DZD 368
13.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.82 DZD 2,118
$27.82 DZD 3,725
-43.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.54 DZD 474
$3.94 DZD 528
-10.15%
Cappuccino
$0.58 DZD 78.0
$1.32 DZD 176
-56.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 DZD 85.9
$1.08 DZD 144
-40.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 DZD 23.39
$0.32 DZD 43.13
-46.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 DZD 184
$1.55 DZD 208
-11.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 DZD 284
$2.11 DZD 283
0.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 DZD 97.1
$1.35 DZD 181
-45.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 DZD 19.48
$0.17 DZD 22.35
-11.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 DZD 139
$1.34 DZD 179
-22.39%
Eggs
$0.84 DZD 113
$1.34 DZD 180
-37.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.46 DZD 865
$6.38 DZD 854
1.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.00 DZD 535
$3.32 DZD 445
20.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.51 DZD 1,943
$18.37 DZD 2,459
-21.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 DZD 271
$3.67 DZD 491
-44.69%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 DZD 376
$3.22 DZD 432
-12.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 DZD 151
$1.72 DZD 231
-34.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 DZD 108
$0.68 DZD 90.4
19.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 DZD 64.9
$0.74 DZD 99.1
-35.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 DZD 60.7
$0.48 DZD 64.8
-6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 DZD 54.3
$0.41 DZD 54.3
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20 DZD 26.95
$0.31 DZD 40.93
-35.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66 DZD 356
$3.59 DZD 480
-25.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.34 DZD 715
$6.84 DZD 915
-21.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 DZD 170
$1.28 DZD 171
-0.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 DZD 262
$1.91 DZD 256
2.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Setif
Biskra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 DZD 15.86
$0.23 DZD 30.86
-47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.64 DZD 755
$6.81 DZD 912
-17.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 DZD 77.8
$1.13 DZD 151
-48.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 DZD 48.66
$0.44 DZD 58.3
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.81 DZD 644
$5.12 DZD 686
-6.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.32 DZD 43.41
$0.35 DZD 47.38
-8.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K DZD 3.8M
$31.4K DZD 4.2M
-10.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K DZD 2.7M
$33.8K DZD 4.5M
-40.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.09 DZD 4,698
$36.19 DZD 4,846
-3.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.61 DZD 1,287
$8.79 DZD 1,176
9.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.55 DZD 1,680
$13.90 DZD 1,860
-9.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.42 DZD 2,332
$21.94 DZD 2,938
-20.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.64 DZD 755
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 DZD 610
$4.57 DZD 612
-0.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 DZD 73.7K
$333 DZD 44.6K
65.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,358 DZD 851.2K
$4,711 DZD 630.8K
34.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.14 DZD 2,295
$31.51 DZD 4,219
-45.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.41 DZD 2,063
$20.62 DZD 2,760
-25.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$33.52 DZD 4,488
$68.2 DZD 9,129
-50.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 DZD 7,491
$27.67 DZD 3,705
102.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setif
Biskra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$67.6 DZD 9,047
$139 DZD 18.7K
-51.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$46.38 DZD 6,209
$104 DZD 13.9K
-55.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$129 DZD 17.3K
$158 DZD 21.1K
-17.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 DZD 15.0K
$145 DZD 19.5K
-23.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$337 DZD 45.1K
$955 DZD 127.8K
-64.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,054 DZD 141.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setif
Biskra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$294 DZD 39.3K
$225 DZD 30.1K
30.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
5.3
-

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

Last update for Setif: October 18, 2026

Last update for Biskra: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Setif
$162
Biskra
$197 21.7% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
$57
Biskra
$59 2.9% $1.6
Eating Out
Setif
$57
Biskra
$67 18.2% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Setif
$55
Biskra
$67 21.3% $12
Accommodation & Living
Setif
$46
Biskra
$104 124% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Setif
$27
Biskra
$31 17.2% $4.5
Getting Around
Setif
$8.5
Biskra
$11 29.7% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $67.6 in Setif versus $139 in Biskra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Setif, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Setif versus $28.00 in Biskra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $197 – making Setif the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇿 Setif
🇩🇿 Biskra
🕒 Local time
21:03 9:03 PM
21:03 9:03 PM
Same time as Setif
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
288,461
205,608
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to DZD – Algerian Dinar Converter

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Setif Biskra 150 km
From you
  • Setif
  • Biskra

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Setif vs Biskra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Biskra cheaper than Setif?
Yes – Biskra is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $619 per month in Setif and $804 in Biskra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Setif, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Setif and in Biskra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $412 in Setif and $536 in Biskra. That's a gap of about 30%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 21% less in Setif. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,200 enough for either Setif or Biskra?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $412 in Setif and $536 in Biskra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Setif or Biskra more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Setif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Setif or Biskra?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Setif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Biskra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Setif vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?