Cost of living in Algeria

Claire Millard
Ileana Ionescu
Last updated
April 1, 2025

If you're planning on relocating from Canada to Algeria it’s important to build a realistic budget based on the cost of living in your chosen destination. The cost of everyday life, from rent and utilities, to childcare and education, tax and other unavoidable costs, can vary enormously based on market forces, the strength of the local economy and government policies.

Read on as we explore key information about the differences in cost of living between Algeria & Canada, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.

What contributes to the cost of living between Algeria & Canada?

In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between Algeria & Canada, so you can start to build up a budget to cover your costs when you relocate. Cost of living is highly personalised, and can depend on the things you like to do, food you like to eat, type of home you want to live in, and so on. Naturally, living in a new country with a family, paying for a larger property, education and healthcare, would cost significantly more than an international student looking only to cover basic expenses during a relatively short term stay.

To help you plan your spending we’ve covered different common expenses in Algeria such as transport, healthcare, childcare and entertainment. Read on for more detail on each.

Pro tip: Use our international payment comparison tools to work out the best options for you to send international payments to and from Algeria & Canada with low fees and great rates.

Is Algeria expensive?

Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in Algeria is 56.8% lower vs Canada when you take into account daily spending without rent.

Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in Algeria is 65.9% lower vs Canada.

If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in Algeria is 88.2% lower than Canada.

Your own exact cost of living will depend on many different factors including your lifestyle, hobbies and even health - this guide can help you build up your own budget to live comfortably in your new home.

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Transport in Algeria

Getting around will be an important cost to consider when living in Algeria. Whether you’re commuting to work, getting to school or travelling for pleasure, the costs of transport can vary widely from country to country, based on fuel and vehicle prices, and the availability of public transport, taxis, and ride hailing services.


TransportCanadaAlgeria% difference
One way ticket (local transport)$3.5 (دج328)$0.3 (دج28)-91.1%
Monthly pass (local transport)$105 (دج9,848)$15.9 (دج1,491)-84.9%
Taxi start$4.5 (دج422)$1.6 (دج150)-65.5%
Taxi (1km) $2.2 (دج206)$0.6 (دج56)-74.2%
Taxi (1 hour waiting)$38.9 (دج3,649)$7.3 (دج685)-81.3%
Gas (1 Litre)$1.6 (دج150)$0.5 (دج47)-70.4%

Utilities (monthly) in Algeria

No matter where you choose to live in Algeria you’ll need to pay utility bills for electricity, gas, water and other similar services. Utility costs are often dictated, or capped, by government policies, as well as market forces, which can mean that what you pay in one country is quite different to another. Here’s a look at utility costs in Algeria as an example.


ItemCanadaAlgeria% difference
Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment$205.8 (دج19,302)$54.8 (دج5,140)-73.4%
Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data)$62.7 (دج5,881)$14 (دج1,313)-77.6%
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data)$84.9 (دج7,963)$27.6 (دج2,589)-67.5%

Grocery costs in Algeria

Daily grocery costs and availability changes depending on the country you’re in, with factors like the proportion of foods that are imported making a big difference. When you’re in Algeria you’ll need to think about building a suitable food budget for your personal tastes, and based on the costs of items you buy often.


ItemCanadaAlgeria% difference
Milk (1 Litre)$3.1 (دج291)$1.3 (دج122)-56.9%
Loaf of fresh bread$3.7 (دج347)$0.2 (دج19)-94.2%
Rice (1kg)$5 (دج469)$2.1 (دج197)-57.7%
12 eggs (regular)$4.8 (دج450)$2.5 (دج234)-48.3%
Local cheese (1kg)$15.5 (دج1,454)$11.2 (دج1,050)-27.8%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$16.8 (دج1,576)$6.9 (دج647)-58.8%
Beef (1kg)$20.4 (دج1,913)$22.2 (دج2,082)8.6%
Apples (1kg)$5.8 (دج544)$4.3 (دج403)-25.6%
Bananas (1kg)$2 (دج188)$4.2 (دج394)110.6%

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Accommodation in Algeria

If you’re moving to Algeria you’ll likely need to rent a place to live. No matter where in the world you choose to reside, the costs of rent tend to make up a huge slice of your monthly budget. That said, you can often bring down the overall costs of renting by choosing a less central location or by sharing with others.


AccommodationCanadaAlgeria% difference
Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre$1838.9 (دج172,474)$238.3 (دج22,351)-87%
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre$1643.1 (دج154,110)$149.1 (دج13,984)-90.9%
Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre$2950.6 (دج276,743)$412.2 (دج38,661)-86%
Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre$2548.7 (دج239,048)$261.5 (دج24,527)-89.7%

Salaries in Algeria

The amount of money you have in your pocket when you’re living in Algeria is a function of both the salary you can earn, and the amount of tax you need to pay on your income. As taxes can be structured quite differently from one country to the next it’s crucial to get a realistic idea of the amount you’ll lose in taxes - and so the amount you have for spending - before you move.


SalaryCanadaAlgeria% difference
Average monthly salary (after tax)$3912.9 (دج366,999)$420.1 (دج39,402)-89.3%

Education and childcare in Algeria

For people moving to Algeria with a family, the costs of education and childcare will be an important budget line. Childcare, school fees and university costs can be a huge proportion of your annual budget, particularly when you’re outside of your home country, and may not have access to government funded educational institutions. Here’s a look at some common costs in Algeria to help your research.

ChildcareCanadaAlgeria% difference
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child$1110.6 (دج104,165)$104.5 (دج9,801)-90.6%
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child$16572.9 (دج1,554,405)$3532.2 (دج331,292)-78.7%

Entertainment and eating out in Algeria

Don’t forget to include discretionary spending on entertainment and personal care to your budget for Algeria. While your own spending in this area will be unique, planning to have some money for fun activities can help you settle into your new home, make new friends and relax into your new life.


EntertainmentCanadaAlgeria% difference
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult)$58.9 (دج5,524)$28.2 (دج2,645)-52.1%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)$23.9 (دج2,242)$11.4 (دج1,069)-52.5%
Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket$15 (دج1,407)$6.3 (دج591)-58.3%


Eating outCanadaAlgeria% difference
Meal out (cheap restaurant)$25 (دج2,345)$3.7 (دج347)-85.2%
Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses$100 (دج9,379)$31.3 (دج2,936)-68.8%
Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent)$15 (دج1,407)$5.4 (دج506)-64.1%
Local Beer (0.5 litres)$8 (دج750)$2.1 (دج197)-74.4%
Imported Beer (0.33 litre)$4.6 (دج431)$2.8 (دج263)-38.5%
Cappuccino (regular)$5.2 (دج488)$1.1 (دج103)-79%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre)$2.9 (دج272)$0.8 (دج75)-72.9%
Water (0.33 litre)$2.3 (دج216)$0.3 (دج28)-86.6%
Data via Numbeo, collected 1 March 2025.

Exchange rates between Canada & Algeria

Understanding the differences in exchange rate between Canada & Algeria is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the DZD/CAD exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.

1 CAD = 93.792 DZD

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Conclusion

Understanding the differences in cost of living between Algeria & Canada is important for anyone who plans to relocate - either for a short period of work or study, or on a long term basis. By understanding how different costs may be for day to day essentials, you can plan your budget effectively and make sure you hit the ground running in your new home.

If you live an international lifestyle, our currency conversion and international payment comparison tools are the perfect way to help you manage your money across currencies. Use our guides and calculators to figure out the cheapest and most convenient ways to spend in your new country, and to send international payments to and from Algeria & Canada with low fees and great rates.