Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guelma and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Guelma: $522 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Guelma, Algeria
Medellin, Colombia
Guelma
🇩🇿 Algeria
$522
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guelma and in Medellin

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 Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $522 in Guelma versus $1,692 in Medellin.

  • Guelma $522
  • Medellin $1,692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $850 in Guelma versus $2,471 in Medellin.

  • Guelma $850
  • Medellin $2,471

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,179 in Guelma versus $3,249 in Medellin.

  • Guelma $1,179
  • Medellin $3,249

Living in Guelma costs roughly 69% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Guelma is 61% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 DZD 425
$8.34 COP 27.0K
-62.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.36 DZD 2,347
$46.53 COP 150.9K
-62.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.80 DZD 514
$9.47 COP 30.7K
-59.87%
Cappuccino
$0.63 DZD 85.2
$3.13 COP 10.2K
-79.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 DZD 80.0
$1.77 COP 5,727
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 DZD 35.39
$1.42 COP 4,619
-81.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 DZD 204
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-52.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 DZD 289
$5.70 COP 18.5K
-62.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 DZD 114
$1.53 COP 4,969
-45.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 DZD 20.21
$2.29 COP 7,429
-93.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 DZD 155
$1.94 COP 6,306
-40.72%
Eggs
$1.18 DZD 160
$3.07 COP 9,942
-61.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 DZD 1,046
$9.99 COP 32.4K
-22.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 DZD 522
$10.45 COP 33.9K
-63.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 DZD 1,953
$13.96 COP 45.3K
3.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 DZD 274
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-49.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 DZD 382
$1.53 COP 4,956
84.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.10 DZD 149
$2.10 COP 6,823
-47.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.96 DZD 130
$2.29 COP 7,437
-58.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 DZD 83.8
$2.11 COP 6,839
-70.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 DZD 65.9
$1.71 COP 5,542
-71.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 DZD 95.1
$1.17 COP 3,794
-40.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 DZD 36.69
$1.58 COP 5,123
-82.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70 DZD 366
$3.91 COP 12.7K
-30.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.54 DZD 884
$14.04 COP 45.5K
-53.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 DZD 168
$1.76 COP 5,712
-29.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 DZD 259
$2.71 COP 8,793
-29.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 DZD 32.54
$1.18 COP 3,825
-79.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.84 DZD 925
$76.3 COP 247.4K
-91.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 DZD 72.0
$1.81 COP 5,859
-70.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 DZD 58.4
$2.13 COP 6,904
-79.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.29 DZD 715
$8.13 COP 26.4K
-34.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.35 DZD 47.43
$1.28 COP 4,135
-72.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K DZD 4.3M
$34.4K COP 111.7M
-8.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K DZD 4.7M
$34.1K COP 110.7M
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.43 DZD 4,924
$178 COP 576.3K
-79.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 DZD 1,273
$13.89 COP 45.0K
-32.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.15 DZD 1,642
$30.74 COP 99.7K
-60.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.47 DZD 3,037
$41.94 COP 136.0K
-46.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.53 DZD 612
$7.47 COP 24.2K
-39.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$340 DZD 45.9K
$790 COP 2.6M
-57.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,850 DZD 655.7K
$12.3K COP 39.9M
-60.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.78 DZD 4,296
$86.3 COP 279.9K
-63.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.46 DZD 4,659
$59.3 COP 192.2K
-41.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.1 DZD 9,342
$138 COP 448.6K
-50.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6 DZD 10.9K
$98.8 COP 320.4K
-18.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$142 DZD 19.2K
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-89.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.1 DZD 12.5K
$667 COP 2.2M
-86.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 DZD 36.1K
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-86.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$197 DZD 26.7K
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-80.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$953 DZD 128.8K
$4,098 COP 13.3M
-76.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,037 DZD 140.3K
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-46.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$300 DZD 40.5K
$646 COP 2.1M
-53.58%
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: October 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Guelma
$173
Medellin
$307 77.3% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
$97
Medellin
$172 77.2% $75
Accommodation & Living
Guelma
$92
Medellin
$667 624% $575
Eating Out
Guelma
$59
Medellin
$173 191% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
$58
Medellin
$222 283% $164
Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
$32
Medellin
$57 80.5% $25
Getting Around
Guelma
$11
Medellin
$93 790% $83

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $142 in Guelma and $1,341 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays about 2.2 times 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 in Guelma vs $47 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $307 per month, with Guelma cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇿 Guelma
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
19:59 7:59 PM
13:59 1:59 PM
6 h behind Guelma
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,847
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to DZD – Algerian Dinar Converter

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.4 USD). 1 EUR = 152 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.6 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,635 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guelma Medellin 8,970 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Guelma
  • Medellin

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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Guelma and in Medellin?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $522 in Guelma and $1,692 in Medellin, so Guelma is about 69% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Guelma. 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: $142 in Guelma versus $1,341 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 77% 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 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $522 in Guelma versus $1,692 in Medellin, a $1,200 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.
Where should expats move: Guelma or Medellin?
Expats usually find Guelma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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