🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $553 in Guelma versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $881 in Guelma versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,208 in Guelma versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Guelma costs roughly 67% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guelma is 60% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.19DZD 425
$8.02COP 25.4K
-60.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.03DZD 2,266
$47.87COP 152.0K
-64.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.08DZD 544
$9.89COP 31.4K
-58.75%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 98.9
$3.13COP 9,937
-76.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66DZD 88.0
$1.91COP 6,058
-65.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.29
$1.51COP 4,794
-80.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53DZD 204
$3.12COP 9,917
-50.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12DZD 283
$5.75COP 18.3K
-63.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91DZD 121
$1.44COP 4,587
-36.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 19.07
$2.49COP 7,894
-94.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15DZD 153
$1.77COP 5,631
-35.03%
Eggs
$1.39DZD 185
$2.96COP 9,396
-53.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22DZD 1,094
$10.07COP 32.0K
-18.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05DZD 539
$10.12COP 32.1K
-59.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.66DZD 1,952
$14.30COP 45.4K
2.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19DZD 291
$4.14COP 13.1K
-47.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84DZD 377
$1.61COP 5,106
76.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12DZD 148
$2.25COP 7,129
-50.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93DZD 124
$2.25COP 7,150
-58.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65DZD 86.2
$2.04COP 6,486
-68.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51DZD 68.0
$1.54COP 4,873
-66.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71DZD 94.5
$1.17COP 3,715
-39.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.53
$1.31COP 4,148
-80.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75DZD 366
$3.90COP 12.4K
-29.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90DZD 918
$14.01COP 44.5K
-50.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13DZD 151
$1.74COP 5,534
-35.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94DZD 259
$2.87COP 9,112
-32.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17DZD 22.74
$1.22COP 3,858
-86.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.02DZD 802
$80.5COP 255.5K
-92.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59DZD 78.6
$1.31COP 4,155
-54.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42DZD 56.1
$2.19COP 6,944
-80.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.04DZD 671
$8.71COP 27.7K
-42.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.39
$1.37COP 4,334
-73.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3KDZD 4.8M
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
30.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KDZD 4.8M
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-0.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.32DZD 5,100
$177COP 562.9K
-78.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.03DZD 1,202
$13.88COP 44.1K
-34.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.46DZD 1,658
$29.72COP 94.4K
-58.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.91DZD 2,783
$44.88COP 142.5K
-53.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.58DZD 609
$6.65COP 21.1K
-31.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$100DZD 13.3K
$813COP 2.6M
-87.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,647DZD 485.5K
$9,187COP 29.2M
-60.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.92DZD 4,382
$89.5COP 284.1K
-63.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23DZD 4,689
$59.0COP 187.2K
-40.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1DZD 9,325
$138COP 438.8K
-49.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3DZD 10.2K
$102COP 324.2K
-25.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$158DZD 21.1K
$1,062COP 3.4M
-85.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106DZD 14.1K
$663COP 2.1M
-84.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283DZD 37.7K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-85.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210DZD 28.0K
$1,027COP 3.3M
-79.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,275DZD 169.7K
$4,183COP 13.3M
-69.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$387DZD 51.5K
$1,675COP 5.3M
-76.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$314DZD 41.7K
$678COP 2.2M
-53.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
10.94
-51.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guelma: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $158 in Guelma and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 116% 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 $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $305 per month, with Guelma cheaper across the board.
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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Guelma and in Medellin?
Guelma and Medellin differ by about 204% in total monthly costs ($553 vs $1,681 including rent). Guelma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 116% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Guelma and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $158 in Guelma versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Guelma – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $553 in Guelma versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Guelma but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Guelma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Guelma and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Guelma or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Guelma and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Guelma or Medellin?
Expats usually find Guelma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 204% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.