🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $611 in Guelma versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $986 in Guelma versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,361 in Guelma versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Guelma costs roughly 41% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Guelma54% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17DZD 421
$5.92COP 21.4K
-46.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.99DZD 3,178
$32.75COP 118.2K
-26.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80DZD 504
$7.20COP 26.0K
-47.22%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 95.1
$1.70COP 6,140
-57.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.7
$1.10COP 3,966
-48.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.82
$0.72COP 2,605
-70.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98DZD 262
$1.67COP 6,022
18.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35DZD 312
$3.10COP 11.2K
-24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98DZD 130
$1.06COP 3,809
-7.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 20.78
$1.25COP 4,497
-87.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62DZD 215
$1.39COP 5,022
16.55%
Eggs
$1.81DZD 240
$2.26COP 8,168
-19.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.17DZD 1,215
$4.33COP 15.6K
111.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14DZD 682
$5.84COP 21.1K
-11.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.73DZD 2,217
$8.83COP 31.9K
89.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17DZD 420
$2.24COP 8,099
41.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82DZD 374
$1.08COP 3,882
161.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70DZD 226
$1.53COP 5,522
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79DZD 104
$1.37COP 4,950
-42.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58DZD 77.0
$1.13COP 4,078
-48.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 65.7
$1.12COP 4,036
-55.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65DZD 85.6
$0.85COP 3,057
-23.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.90
$0.91COP 3,281
-69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71DZD 359
$2.33COP 8,414
16.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.21DZD 955
$11.13COP 40.2K
-35.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35DZD 180
$1.19COP 4,309
13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07DZD 275
$2.37COP 8,553
-12.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.32
$0.79COP 2,838
-68.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.62DZD 2,335
$41.13COP 148.5K
-57.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67DZD 88.2
$1.44COP 5,184
-53.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 47.99
$1.91COP 6,901
-81.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.34DZD 707
$8.02COP 28.9K
-33.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 48.41
$0.94COP 3,385
-60.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
78.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
25.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.48DZD 5,363
$84.0COP 303.1K
-51.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.48DZD 1,256
$9.60COP 34.7K
-1.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.90DZD 2,239
$24.16COP 87.2K
-30.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.44DZD 3,105
$25.88COP 93.4K
-9.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.38DZD 712
$3.92COP 14.1K
37.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.7DZD 12.3K
$306COP 1.1M
-69.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,664DZD 485.4K
$5,919COP 21.4M
-38.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.07DZD 4,912
$57.9COP 209.1K
-35.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.82DZD 5,938
$31.82COP 114.9K
40.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3DZD 9,971
$99.9COP 360.6K
-24.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2DZD 10.4K
$107COP 386.8K
-27.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196DZD 26.0K
$487COP 1.8M
-59.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.1K
$368COP 1.3M
-68.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276DZD 36.6K
$826COP 3.0M
-66.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185DZD 24.5K
$716COP 2.6M
-74.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$544DZD 72.1K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-81.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$392DZD 51.9K
$1,407COP 5.1M
-72.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$323DZD 42.8K
$546COP 2.0M
-40.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
13.43
-59.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guelma: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Guelma and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 69% 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: $24.00 in Guelma vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Medellin?
Guelma and Medellin differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($611 vs $1,034 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, Medellin earns 69% less. 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 Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $196 in Guelma versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Guelma – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 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 $611 in Guelma versus $1,034 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 69% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.