Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Hassi Messaoud

For one person, living is cheaper in Hassi Messaoud: $517 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Hassi Messaoud
🇩🇿 Algeria
$517
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Hassi Messaoud

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $517 in Hassi Messaoud.

  • Cebu $918
  • Hassi Messaoud $517

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $846 in Hassi Messaoud.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Hassi Messaoud $846

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,175 in Hassi Messaoud.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Hassi Messaoud $1,175

Living in Cebu is roughly 77% more expensive than in Hassi Messaoud, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Hassi Messaoud 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$3.56 DZD 476
-13.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$17.21 DZD 2,304
40.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$4.30 DZD 576
-8.84%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$0.68 DZD 91.5
269.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.61 DZD 81.4
160.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.25 DZD 33.26
112.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$1.50 DZD 201
18.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$2.00 DZD 268
8.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$0.87 DZD 117
120.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$0.15 DZD 19.59
806.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.11 DZD 149
-9.01%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.22 DZD 163
66.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$6.73 DZD 902
46.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$3.97 DZD 532
10.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$15.90 DZD 2,129
-52.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$1.81 DZD 243
82.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.36 DZD 316
-41.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$1.09 DZD 146
113.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$1.02 DZD 137
47.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$0.51 DZD 68.3
362.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.49 DZD 65.9
287.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$0.82 DZD 110
45.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.28 DZD 36.93
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$2.37 DZD 317
26.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$5.97 DZD 800
1.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.16 DZD 155
6.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$2.07 DZD 276
-15.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$0.25 DZD 33.12
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$7.65 DZD 1,024
65.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$0.60 DZD 80.3
28.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$0.36 DZD 48.28
-36.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$5.06 DZD 677
-11.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$0.32 DZD 42.71
309.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$31.1K DZD 4.2M
-31.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$31.0K DZD 4.2M
-38.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$40.72 DZD 5,452
195.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$9.33 DZD 1,249
50.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$12.49 DZD 1,672
120.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$22.82 DZD 3,055
41.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$4.44 DZD 595
27.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$374 DZD 50.0K
-26.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$4,818 DZD 645.1K
64.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$36.03 DZD 4,824
36.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$38.22 DZD 5,116
-33.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$59.0 DZD 7,902
30.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$74.1 DZD 9,923
-22.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$157 DZD 21.0K
217.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$83.1 DZD 11.1K
271.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$235 DZD 31.5K
358.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$191 DZD 25.5K
222.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$985 DZD 131.8K
193.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$1,135 DZD 151.9K
68.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
5.3
35.85%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Hassi Messaoud: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Hassi Messaoud
$83 73.1% $226
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Hassi Messaoud
$171 16.9% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Hassi Messaoud
$63 61.3% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Hassi Messaoud
$93 0.6% $0.6
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Hassi Messaoud
$64 26.9% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Hassi Messaoud
$32 27.3% $12
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Hassi Messaoud
$11 29.1% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $157 in Hassi Messaoud. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $17.00 in Hassi Messaoud for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $171 per month, with Hassi Messaoud cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇩🇿 Hassi Messaoud
🕒 Local time
14:44 2:44 PM
07:44 7:44 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
45,147
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Cebu Hassi Messaoud 11,930 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Hassi Messaoud

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
Cebu vs Hassi Messaoud: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hassi Messaoud cheaper than Cebu?
Hassi Messaoud is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Cebu and $776 in Hassi Messaoud to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cebu and Hassi Messaoud?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $157 in Hassi Messaoud. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Hassi Messaoud?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $517 in Hassi Messaoud – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Hassi Messaoud runs roughly 65% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cebu or Hassi Messaoud?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Hassi Messaoud gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Hassi Messaoud more family-friendly?
For families, Hassi Messaoud is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Hassi Messaoud?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Hassi Messaoud are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hassi Messaoud gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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