Cost of living in Algeria
If you're planning on relocating from the United Kingdom 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 & the United Kingdom, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.
What contributes to the cost of living between Algeria & the United Kingdom?
In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between Algeria & the United Kingdom, 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 & the United Kingdom with low fees and great rates.
Is Algeria expensive?
Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in Algeria is 58.8% lower vs the United Kingdom when you take into account daily spending without rent.
Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in Algeria is 67.2% lower vs the United Kingdom.
If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in Algeria is 88.4% lower than the United Kingdom.
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.
| Transport | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| One way ticket (local transport) | £2.4 (دج413) | £0.2 (دج34) | -93% |
| Monthly pass (local transport) | £70 (دج12,051) | £8.5 (دج1,463) | -87.8% |
| Taxi start | £3.8 (دج654) | £0.8 (دج138) | -77.9% |
| Taxi (1km) | £1.7 (دج293) | £0.3 (دج52) | -81.6% |
| Taxi (1 hour waiting) | £20 (دج3,443) | £3.9 (دج671) | -80.4% |
| Gas (1 Litre) | £1.5 (دج258) | £0.3 (دج52) | -82.3% |
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.
| Item | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment | £239.1 (دج41,162) | £29.5 (دج5,079) | -87.7% |
| Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | £12.8 (دج2,204) | £7.5 (دج1,291) | -40.9% |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) | £31 (دج5,337) | £14.9 (دج2,565) | -52.1% |
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.
| Item | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 Litre) | £1.2 (دج207) | £0.7 (دج121) | -42.6% |
| Loaf of fresh bread | £1.2 (دج207) | £0.1 (دج17) | -90.7% |
| Rice (1kg) | £1.7 (دج293) | £1.2 (دج207) | -30.4% |
| 12 eggs (regular) | £3 (دج516) | £1.3 (دج224) | -54.7% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | £7.2 (دج1,240) | £6 (دج1,033) | -15.9% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | £6.6 (دج1,136) | £3.7 (دج637) | -43.9% |
| Beef (1kg) | £10.4 (دج1,790) | £11.9 (دج2,049) | 15.2% |
| Apples (1kg) | £2.2 (دج379) | £2.3 (دج396) | 5.5% |
| Bananas (1kg) | £1.2 (دج207) | £2.3 (دج396) | 87.8% |
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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.
| Accommodation | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre | £1031.3 (دج177,543) | £128.1 (دج22,053) | -87.6% |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | £836.9 (دج144,077) | £80.2 (دج13,807) | -90.4% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre | £1724.4 (دج296,864) | £221.6 (دج38,150) | -87.2% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | £1358.1 (دج233,804) | £140.6 (دج24,205) | -89.6% |
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.
| Salary | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | £2373.6 (دج408,627) | £225.8 (دج38,873) | -90.5% |
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.
| Childcare | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | £1249.9 (دج215,177) | £56.2 (دج9,675) | -95.5% |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | £15402.6 (دج2,651,635) | £1898.7 (دج326,871) | -87.7% |
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.
| Entertainment | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult) | £33.8 (دج5,819) | £15.1 (دج2,600) | -55.2% |
| Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend) | £11.4 (دج1,963) | £6.1 (دج1,050) | -46.4% |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket | £10 (دج1,722) | £3.4 (دج585) | -66.4% |
| Eating out | United Kingdom | Algeria | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal out (cheap restaurant) | £15 (دج2,582) | £2 (دج344) | -86.8% |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses | £65 (دج11,190) | £16.8 (دج2,892) | -74.2% |
| Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent) | £7.5 (دج1,291) | £2.9 (دج499) | -61.4% |
| Local Beer (0.5 litres) | £5 (دج861) | £1.1 (دج189) | -78% |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre) | £2.5 (دج430) | £1.5 (دج258) | -38.4% |
| Cappuccino (regular) | £3.4 (دج585) | £0.6 (دج103) | -82.6% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) | £1.8 (دج310) | £0.4 (دج69) | -76.1% |
| Water (0.33 litre) | £1.3 (دج224) | £0.2 (دج34) | -86.6% |
Exchange rates between the United Kingdom & Algeria
Understanding the differences in exchange rate between the United Kingdom & Algeria is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the DZD/GBP exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.
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Conclusion
Understanding the differences in cost of living between Algeria & the United Kingdom 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 & the United Kingdom with low fees and great rates.