Cost of Living Comparison Between Guelma and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Guelma and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.19 DZD 425
$8.02 COP 25.4K
-60.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.03 DZD 2,266
$47.87 COP 152.0K
-64.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 DZD 544
$9.89 COP 31.4K
-58.75%
Cappuccino
$0.74 DZD 98.9
$3.13 COP 9,937
-76.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 DZD 88.0
$1.91 COP 6,058
-65.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 DZD 40.29
$1.51 COP 4,794
-80.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 DZD 204
$3.12 COP 9,917
-50.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 DZD 283
$5.75 COP 18.3K
-63.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 DZD 121
$1.44 COP 4,587
-36.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.14 DZD 19.07
$2.49 COP 7,894
-94.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 DZD 153
$1.77 COP 5,631
-35.03%
Eggs
$1.39 DZD 185
$2.96 COP 9,396
-53.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.22 DZD 1,094
$10.07 COP 32.0K
-18.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 DZD 539
$10.12 COP 32.1K
-59.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.66 DZD 1,952
$14.30 COP 45.4K
2.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 DZD 291
$4.14 COP 13.1K
-47.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 DZD 377
$1.61 COP 5,106
76.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.12 DZD 148
$2.25 COP 7,129
-50.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.93 DZD 124
$2.25 COP 7,150
-58.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 DZD 86.2
$2.04 COP 6,486
-68.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 DZD 68.0
$1.54 COP 4,873
-66.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 DZD 94.5
$1.17 COP 3,715
-39.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26 DZD 34.53
$1.31 COP 4,148
-80.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75 DZD 366
$3.90 COP 12.4K
-29.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.90 DZD 918
$14.01 COP 44.5K
-50.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 DZD 151
$1.74 COP 5,534
-35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 DZD 259
$2.87 COP 9,112
-32.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 DZD 22.74
$1.22 COP 3,858
-86.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.02 DZD 802
$80.5 COP 255.5K
-92.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.59 DZD 78.6
$1.31 COP 4,155
-54.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 DZD 56.1
$2.19 COP 6,944
-80.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 DZD 671
$8.71 COP 27.7K
-42.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 DZD 48.39
$1.37 COP 4,334
-73.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K DZD 4.8M
$27.8K COP 88.4M
30.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K DZD 4.8M
$35.8K COP 113.6M
-0.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.32 DZD 5,100
$177 COP 562.9K
-78.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.03 DZD 1,202
$13.88 COP 44.1K
-34.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.46 DZD 1,658
$29.72 COP 94.4K
-58.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.91 DZD 2,783
$44.88 COP 142.5K
-53.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.58 DZD 609
$6.65 COP 21.1K
-31.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$100 DZD 13.3K
$813 COP 2.6M
-87.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,647 DZD 485.5K
$9,187 COP 29.2M
-60.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.92 DZD 4,382
$89.5 COP 284.1K
-63.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23 DZD 4,689
$59.0 COP 187.2K
-40.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.1 DZD 9,325
$138 COP 438.8K
-49.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3 DZD 10.2K
$102 COP 324.2K
-25.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$158 DZD 21.1K
$1,062 COP 3.4M
-85.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 DZD 14.1K
$663 COP 2.1M
-84.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 DZD 37.7K
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-85.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$210 DZD 28.0K
$1,027 COP 3.3M
-79.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,275 DZD 169.7K
$4,183 COP 13.3M
-69.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$387 DZD 51.5K
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-76.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 DZD 41.7K
$678 COP 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.

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