For one person, living is cheaper in Guelma: $523 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Guelma and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $523 in Guelma versus $918 in Cebu.
Guelma $523
Cebu $918
Estimated couple costs with rent: $849 in Guelma versus $1,409 in Cebu.
Guelma $849
Cebu $1,409
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,176 in Guelma versus $1,900 in Cebu.
Guelma $1,176
Cebu $1,900
🌍
Living in Guelma costs roughly 43% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Guelma61% lower, Cebu32% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.15DZD 421
$3.09₱194
1.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.77DZD 2,245
$24.22₱1,525
-30.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.86DZD 517
$3.92₱247
-1.53%
Cappuccino
$0.69DZD 91.7
$2.51₱158
-72.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59DZD 79.1
$1.59₱100
-62.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24DZD 31.92
$0.53₱33.43
-54.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57DZD 210
$1.78₱112
-11.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18DZD 292
$2.17₱137
0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87DZD 117
$1.92₱121
-54.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 19.62
$1.36₱85.4
-88.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15DZD 154
$1.01₱63.5
13.86%
Eggs
$1.19DZD 159
$2.03₱128
-41.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.00DZD 1,071
$9.86₱621
-18.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.01DZD 536
$4.39₱277
-8.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.59DZD 1,953
$7.60₱479
91.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02DZD 270
$3.30₱208
-38.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69DZD 360
$1.39₱87.8
93.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07DZD 143
$2.33₱147
-54.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.96DZD 129
$1.50₱94.3
-36.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63DZD 84.0
$2.36₱149
-73.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45DZD 60.4
$1.90₱119
-76.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77DZD 103
$1.19₱74.9
-35.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25DZD 33.57
$0.63₱39.71
-60.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59DZD 347
$3.00₱189
-13.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.52DZD 873
$6.03₱379
8.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08DZD 145
$1.23₱77.7
-12.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85DZD 248
$1.75₱110
5.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24DZD 32.10
$0.25₱15.86
-4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.76DZD 771
$12.64₱796
-54.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57DZD 75.9
$0.77₱48.62
-25.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45DZD 60.1
$0.23₱14.53
95.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.31DZD 711
$4.46₱281
19.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 47.73
$1.31₱82.8
-72.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KDZD 4.3M
$21.2K₱1.3M
50.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KDZD 4.6M
$19.1K₱1.2M
78.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.43DZD 4,877
$120₱7,569
-69.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.29DZD 1,244
$14.00₱882
-33.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.07DZD 1,616
$27.54₱1,734
-56.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.53DZD 3,016
$32.33₱2,035
-30.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.65₱419
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.39DZD 587
$5.65₱356
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$337DZD 45.2K
$275₱17.3K
22.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,258DZD 570.0K
$7,918₱498.5K
-46.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.79DZD 4,256
$49.33₱3,106
-35.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.13DZD 4,569
$25.24₱1,589
35.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.6DZD 9,315
$77.0₱4,846
-9.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8DZD 10.8K
$57.2₱3,601
41.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$142DZD 19.0K
$500₱31.5K
-71.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$92.4DZD 12.4K
$309₱19.4K
-70.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$267DZD 35.8K
$1,078₱67.9K
-75.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197DZD 26.3K
$615₱38.7K
-68.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$959DZD 128.4K
$2,886₱181.7K
-66.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,053DZD 140.9K
$1,917₱120.7K
-45.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302DZD 40.4K
$346₱21.8K
-12.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
7.2
-26.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guelma: October 11, 2026
Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Guelma
$174 33.3%
Cebu
$206 22.4% ↑ 18.5%$32
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
$97 18.6%
Cebu
$94 10.2% ↓ 3.5%$3.4
🏠Accommodation & Living
Guelma
$92 17.7%
Cebu
$309 33.6% ↑ 234%$216
🍽Eating Out
Guelma
$60 11.6%
Cebu
$88 9.6% ↑ 45.9%$28
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
$58 11.1%
Cebu
$162 17.6% ↑ 180%$104
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
$31 6%
Cebu
$44 4.8% ↑ 39.4%$12
🚌Getting Around
Guelma
$9.5 1.8%
Cebu
$16 1.7% ↑ 63.4%$6
🛒Groceries & Markets
Guelma
$412 35%
Cebu
$483 25.4% ↑ 17.3%$71
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
$216 18.4%
Cebu
$209 11% ↓ 3.5%$7.5
🏠Accommodation & Living
Guelma
$197 16.7%
Cebu
$615 32.4% ↑ 213%$419
🍽Eating Out
Guelma
$202 17.2%
Cebu
$292 15.4% ↑ 44.3%$90
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
$67 5.7%
Cebu
$176 9.3% ↑ 162%$109
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
$63 * 5.3%
Cebu
$94 4.9% ↑ 50%$31
🚌Getting Around
Guelma
$20 1.7%
Cebu
$32 1.7% ↑ 62%$12
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $142 in Guelma and $500 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cebu pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Guelma vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $206 per month, with Guelma cheaper across the board.
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
Guelma vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than Guelma?
Guelma is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Guelma or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Cebu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Guelma and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $142 in Guelma versus $500 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Guelma and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $523 per month in Guelma versus $918 in Cebu – a 76% 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 Guelma runs roughly 119% 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 Guelma or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Guelma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Guelma or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, Guelma 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, Guelma or Cebu?
Safety-wise, Guelma and Cebu 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 Guelma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.