Chlef vs Mascara Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Chlef vs Mascara: everyday costs favor Mascara (~1% CPI gap), housing index favors Mascara, wage stretch favors Chlef. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Mascara
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (3% gap, Mascara ahead); Utilities (3% gap, Mascara ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $4 lower in Mascara than in Chlef (~3% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $4 (favoring Mascara).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Mascara | CPI 12.5 vs 12.6 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Mascara | Rent index 3.5 vs 3.6 (lower is better) |
| Food | Mascara | Groceries index 20.1 vs 20.4 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Mascara | One-way ticket 23.1 vs 23.49 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Mascara | Utilities (85m²) 945 vs 972 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Mascara | Internet 1455.3 vs 1474.2 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Chlef | Restaurant index 10.8 vs 10.8 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Chlef | Avg net salary 102114 vs 99603 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Chlef | PP index 12.2 vs 11.9 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Mascara leads with a 3% gap.
Rent index 3.5 vs 3.6 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Mascara — Lower housing / rent index (3% gap).
- Families: Mascara — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Mascara; purchasing power favors Chlef.
- Remote Workers: Mascara — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Mascara (~1% gap).
- Budget Living: Mascara — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Mascara is the overall cost winner on CPI (~1% lower everyday-cost index than Chlef).
- Housing: Mascara leads on rent index (3% gap).
- Food / groceries: Mascara is lower (1% gap).
- Purchasing power: Chlef scores higher (2% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$4 cheaper in Mascara.
Analysis
Chlef versus Mascara is not a single number. With a 1% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Mascara, while housing follows Mascara's rent index. Purchasing power (12.2 vs 11.9) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-23
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.