🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $603 in Guelma versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $958 in Guelma versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,312 in Guelma versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Guelma costs roughly 59% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guelma is 55% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26DZD 431
$13.14MX$227
-75.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.27DZD 3,077
$53.5MX$926
-56.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98DZD 526
$9.33MX$161
-57.34%
Cappuccino
$0.77DZD 102
$3.70MX$64.0
-79.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 80.3
$1.60MX$27.76
-61.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.75
$1.12MX$19.34
-81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90DZD 252
$3.14MX$54.3
-39.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41DZD 318
$4.85MX$83.9
-50.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.65MX$28.61
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 20.71
$2.71MX$46.96
-94.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61DZD 213
$1.91MX$33.03
-15.71%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 248
$2.59MX$44.81
-27.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.93DZD 1,181
$9.81MX$170
-8.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.43DZD 718
$8.43MX$146
-35.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.83DZD 2,226
$11.93MX$206
41.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17DZD 419
$2.95MX$51.1
7.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.91DZD 385
$1.74MX$30.10
67.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69DZD 223
$2.04MX$35.38
-17.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76DZD 100
$2.06MX$35.64
-63.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 77.6
$2.15MX$37.20
-72.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 64.9
$2.26MX$39.02
-78.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.2
$1.39MX$23.97
-56.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 37.01
$1.12MX$19.31
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81DZD 371
$4.22MX$73.0
-33.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93DZD 917
$17.51MX$303
-60.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 172
$1.71MX$29.58
-23.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14DZD 283
$3.63MX$62.8
-41.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.10
$0.35MX$6.10
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.15DZD 2,268
$19.32MX$334
-11.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65DZD 85.7
$1.38MX$23.80
-52.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.56
$0.28MX$4.77
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.19DZD 687
$5.28MX$91.3
-1.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.09
$1.36MX$23.50
-75.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KDZD 4.3M
$19.1KMX$330.5K
69.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
$23.6KMX$408.4K
43.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.42DZD 5,477
$40.53MX$701
2.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.18DZD 1,214
$27.38MX$474
-66.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.81DZD 2,223
$30.38MX$526
-44.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.68DZD 3,132
$52.2MX$903
-54.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.48MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.42DZD 717
$6.19MX$107
-12.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0DZD 12.3K
$425MX$7,355
-78.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,547DZD 468.9K
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-66.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.88DZD 4,877
$58.3MX$1,009
-36.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.40DZD 6,003
$44.57MX$771
1.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.6DZD 10.1K
$103MX$1,791
-25.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4DZD 10.2K
$109MX$1,881
-28.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$1,014MX$17.5K
-80.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.1K
$623MX$10.8K
-81.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.6K
$2,119MX$36.7K
-86.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182DZD 24.0K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-85.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,147DZD 151.6K
$3,792MX$65.6K
-69.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,131DZD 149.6K
$2,110MX$36.5K
-46.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guelma
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$312DZD 41.3K
$1,052MX$18.2K
-70.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
11.34
-52.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guelma: July 28, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Guelma and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 237% 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: $23.00 in Guelma vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $293 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Guelma and in Mexico City?
Guelma and Mexico City differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($603 vs $1,472 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 237% lower in Mexico City. 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Guelma versus $1,014 in Mexico City. 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 42% higher in Mexico City. 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 $23.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. 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 $603 in Guelma versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Guelma but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. 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 Mexico City?
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 Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Guelma and Mexico City 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 Mexico City?
Expats usually find Guelma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.