😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $611 in Guelma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $986 in Guelma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,361 in Guelma.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 143% more expensive than Guelma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Guelma is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.17DZD 421
309.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$23.99DZD 3,178
121.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.80DZD 504
155.79%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$0.72DZD 95.1
420.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.57DZD 75.7
175.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.21DZD 27.82
438.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.98DZD 262
60.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.35DZD 312
98.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.98DZD 130
65.31%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.16DZD 20.78
1593.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.62DZD 215
16.05%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.81DZD 240
38.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.17DZD 1,215
9.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.14DZD 682
61.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$16.73DZD 2,217
-28.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.17DZD 420
-9.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.82DZD 374
-37.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.70DZD 226
22.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.79DZD 104
149.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.58DZD 77.0
272.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.50DZD 65.7
336.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.65DZD 85.6
113.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.28DZD 36.90
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.71DZD 359
54.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.21DZD 955
97.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.35DZD 180
30.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.07DZD 275
77.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.25DZD 33.32
56.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$17.62DZD 2,335
5.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.67DZD 88.2
107.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.36DZD 47.99
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$5.34DZD 707
1.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.37DZD 48.41
264.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
-41.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
-30.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$40.48DZD 5,363
0.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$9.48DZD 1,256
190.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$16.90DZD 2,239
79.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$23.44DZD 3,105
127.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.38DZD 712
16.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$92.7DZD 12.3K
370.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,664DZD 485.4K
185.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$37.07DZD 4,912
53.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$44.82DZD 5,938
-0.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$75.3DZD 9,971
36.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$78.2DZD 10.4K
37.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$196DZD 26.0K
409.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$114DZD 15.1K
442.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$276DZD 36.6K
673.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$185DZD 24.5K
567.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$544DZD 72.1K
610.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$392DZD 51.9K
495.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$323DZD 42.8K
230.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.42
109.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Guelma: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $196 in Guelma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 231% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $24.00 in Guelma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $206 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
Mexico City vs Guelma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Guelma?
Mexico City and Guelma differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $611 including rent). Guelma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Guelma?
Mexico City pays 231% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Guelma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $196 in Guelma. 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 39% 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 $24.00 versus $53.0 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 $611 in Guelma versus $1,484 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 Mexico City and Guelma?
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 Mexico City or Guelma safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Guelma 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: Mexico City or Guelma?
Expats usually find Guelma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared