Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between M'Sila and Cebu

For one person, living is cheaper in M'Sila: $459 a month against $915 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

M'Sila
🇩🇿 Algeria
$459
/mo nomad
Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$915
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in M'Sila and in Cebu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in M'Sila and in Cebu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $459 in M'Sila versus $915 in Cebu.

  • M'Sila $459
  • Cebu $915

Estimated couple costs with rent: $753 in M'Sila versus $1,418 in Cebu.

  • M'Sila $753
  • Cebu $1,418

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,046 in M'Sila versus $1,921 in Cebu.

  • M'Sila $1,046
  • Cebu $1,921

Living in M'Sila costs roughly 50% less than in Cebu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: M'Sila 66% lower, Cebu 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.88 DZD 252
$3.05 ₱192
-38.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.82 DZD 2,520
$24.00 ₱1,511
-21.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 DZD 496
$3.99 ₱251
-7.27%
Cappuccino
$0.35 DZD 47.31
$2.50 ₱157
-86.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 DZD 67.8
$1.54 ₱97.1
-66.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 DZD 26.58
$0.50 ₱31.37
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 DZD 290
$1.78 ₱112
21.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 DZD 291
$2.17 ₱136
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 DZD 104
$2.00 ₱126
-61.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.13 DZD 16.96
$1.37 ₱86.2
-90.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 DZD 155
$1.03 ₱64.9
11.65%
Eggs
$1.19 DZD 160
$2.03 ₱128
-41.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.92 DZD 391
$10.20 ₱642
-71.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 DZD 528
$4.45 ₱280
-11.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.30 DZD 1,245
$7.67 ₱483
21.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.09 DZD 280
$3.31 ₱208
-36.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 DZD 359
$1.46 ₱91.8
83.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 DZD 143
$2.32 ₱146
-53.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 DZD 74.0
$1.49 ₱94.0
-63.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 67.0
$2.34 ₱147
-78.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.27 DZD 35.63
$1.94 ₱122
-86.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.12 DZD 16.21
$1.16 ₱73.0
-89.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 DZD 33.34
$0.68 ₱42.89
-63.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 DZD 363
$2.99 ₱188
-9.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.75 DZD 904
$6.24 ₱393
8.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 DZD 171
$1.23 ₱77.3
3.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 DZD 249
$1.73 ₱109
7.51%
🚌 Getting Around
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 DZD 32.27
$0.23 ₱14.36
4.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.53 DZD 874
$12.34 ₱777
-47.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 DZD 73.4
$0.79 ₱49.96
-30.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 DZD 57.5
$0.22 ₱13.86
95.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 DZD 762
$4.54 ₱286
25.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 DZD 44.76
$1.32 ₱82.9
-75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K DZD 4.7M
$21.0K ₱1.3M
66.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K DZD 4.6M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
78.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.25 DZD 3,112
$119 ₱7,464
-80.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.50 DZD 1,004
$14.22 ₱896
-47.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.44 DZD 1,665
$27.47 ₱1,730
-54.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.17 DZD 2,968
$32.31 ₱2,034
-31.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.50 ₱409
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.36 DZD 584
$5.40 ₱340
-19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 DZD 15.4K
$276 ₱17.4K
-58.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,439 DZD 862.1K
$7,866 ₱495.3K
-18.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.63 DZD 4,368
$49.37 ₱3,108
-33.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.92 DZD 4,541
$24.58 ₱1,548
38.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 DZD 9,064
$76.6 ₱4,825
-11.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9 DZD 10.7K
$58.9 ₱3,706
35.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$144 DZD 19.2K
$503 ₱31.7K
-71.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$92.2 DZD 12.3K
$305 ₱19.2K
-69.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 DZD 36.1K
$1,075 ₱67.7K
-74.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 DZD 25.7K
$632 ₱39.8K
-69.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$961 DZD 128.7K
$2,870 ₱180.7K
-66.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$623 DZD 83.4K
$1,877 ₱118.2K
-66.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
M'Sila
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$243 DZD 32.5K
$336 ₱21.1K
-27.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
7.2
-26.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for M'Sila: October 18, 2026

Last update for Cebu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
M'Sila
$138
Cebu
$210 52.4% $72
Clothing & Footwear
M'Sila
$96
Cebu
$94 2.2% $2.1
Accommodation & Living
M'Sila
$92
Cebu
$305 230% $212
Eating Out
M'Sila
$48
Cebu
$88 81.3% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
M'Sila
$43
Cebu
$160 271% $117
Sport & Entertainment
M'Sila
$31
Cebu
$43 39.5% $12
Getting Around
M'Sila
$10
Cebu
$15 48.7% $5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $144 in M'Sila and $503 in Cebu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 39% 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: $19.00 in M'Sila vs $24.00 in Cebu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $138 vs $210 per month, with M'Sila cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇿 M'Sila
🇵🇭 Cebu
🕒 Local time
17:53 5:53 PM
00:53 12:53 AM
7 h ahead of M'Sila
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
156,647
964,169
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to DZD – Algerian Dinar Converter

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • M'Sila Cebu 11,870 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • M'Sila
  • Cebu

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
M'Sila vs Cebu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cebu cheaper than M'Sila?
M'Sila is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: M'Sila or Cebu?
On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Cebu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between M'Sila and Cebu?
Rent for a central apartment: $144 in M'Sila versus $503 in Cebu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in M'Sila and in Cebu?
All in, you'll spend $459 per month in M'Sila versus $915 in Cebu – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in M'Sila runs roughly 89% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either M'Sila or Cebu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though M'Sila gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is M'Sila or Cebu more family-friendly?
For families, M'Sila is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, M'Sila or Cebu?
Safety-wise, M'Sila and Cebu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find M'Sila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

M'Sila vs other spots: cost of living compared

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