Algeria
Profiled in Algiers · North Africa
Whitewashed and tumbling down to a deep blue Mediterranean bay, Algiers carries French boulevards and an ancient casbah with equal swagger.
Cost of living
What a month costs
Life is cheap in dinar terms, but imports and cars cost a fortune. The wide gap between the official rate and the street rate changes the whole calculation fast.
The scores
How it rates for a moving family
See and do
Top 10 in Algiers
- Casbah of AlgiersThe steep UNESCO old town, a maze of Ottoman houses tumbling toward the port.
- Notre Dame d'AfriqueA hilltop basilica with sweeping views over the bay from Bologhine.
- Martyrs MemorialThe towering Maqam Echahid concrete monument, an icon of the independence war.
- Djamaa el DjazairThe Great Mosque of Algiers, with the tallest minaret in the world and a vast prayer hall.
- Jardin d'Essai du HammaA grand botanical garden with palm avenues, ficus alleys and a small zoo.
- Ketchaoua MosqueA landmark mosque at the foot of the Casbah, restored to its Ottoman glory.
- Grande PosteThe neo-Moorish central post office, a downtown showpiece of French colonial design.
- Bardo National MuseumPrehistory and ethnography set in a lovely old Moorish villa.
- National Museum of Fine ArtsThe largest art museum in Africa, facing the Jardin d'Essai.
- Bastion 23The restored Palais des Rais, a cluster of Ottoman seafront palaces near the port.
Where to go
Weekend escapes
- TipasaRoman coastal ruins on the sea about an hour west, a UNESCO site with columns above the waves.
- Chrea National ParkCedar forest and mountain air above Blida, cool in summer and dusted with snow in winter.
- CherchellOld Roman port town further west with a small archaeology museum and quiet beaches.
- BejaiaKabylie coast with the Cap Carbon cliffs and Gouraya park, a scenic drive east.
- TikjdaHigh Djurdjura peaks in Kabylie for hiking, a rugged inland escape.
Coffee
Best cafes
- Cafe TantonvilleA Belle Epoque cafe by the National Theatre on Square Port Said, one of the oldest in the city.
- Milk BarA downtown institution on Place Emir Abdelkader, known for coffee and ice cream.
Restaurants
Where to eat
- Sofitel Algiers Hamma GardenReliable upscale dining beside the botanical garden, a safe bet for a long lunch.
- Hotel El-DjazairThe historic former Saint George, with garden terraces and classic French-Algerian fare.
- Hotel El AurassiA landmark hotel above the bay with panoramic dining and city views.
- Cafe TantonvilleBrasserie plates and old-world atmosphere near the theatre.
Residency
Algeria has no investor or digital-nomad visa, and it is a hard place to settle as a foreigner. Long-stay residence hinges on work or family ties and heavy paperwork.
Tax
Residents pay progressive income tax that tops out at 35 percent on worldwide income. There is no special regime for newcomers, and moving money out of the country is tightly controlled.
Curious what you would actually pay? See the Algeria tax profile: income, corporate, VAT and exit rules →
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