😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $603 in Guelma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $958 in Guelma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,312 in Guelma.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 144% more expensive than in Guelma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Guelma is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$3.26DZD 431
303.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$23.27DZD 3,077
130.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$3.98DZD 526
134.42%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$0.77DZD 102
380.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.61DZD 80.3
162.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.21DZD 27.75
433.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$1.90DZD 252
65.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$2.41DZD 318
101.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$0.99DZD 131
66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$0.16DZD 20.71
1593.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.61DZD 213
18.63%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$1.87DZD 248
38.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$8.93DZD 1,181
9.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$5.43DZD 718
55.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$16.83DZD 2,226
-29.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$3.17DZD 419
-6.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$2.91DZD 385
-40.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.69DZD 223
20.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$0.76DZD 100
171.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$0.59DZD 77.6
264.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$0.49DZD 64.9
361.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.61DZD 80.2
127.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.28DZD 37.01
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$2.81DZD 371
50.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$6.93DZD 917
152.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$1.30DZD 172
31.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$2.14DZD 283
69.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$0.25DZD 33.10
40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
$17.15DZD 2,268
12.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$0.65DZD 85.7
112.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$0.34DZD 44.56
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$5.19DZD 687
1.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$0.33DZD 44.09
312.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$32.3KDZD 4.3M
-40.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
-30.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$41.42DZD 5,477
-2.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$9.18DZD 1,214
198.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$16.81DZD 2,223
80.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$23.68DZD 3,132
120.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$5.42DZD 717
14.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$93.0DZD 12.3K
357.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$3,547DZD 468.9K
202.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$36.88DZD 4,877
58.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$45.40DZD 6,003
-1.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$76.6DZD 10.1K
35.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$77.4DZD 10.2K
40.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$195DZD 25.8K
418.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$114DZD 15.1K
445.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$277DZD 36.6K
665.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$182DZD 24.0K
572.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
$1,147DZD 151.6K
230.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
$1,131DZD 149.6K
86.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Guelma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
$312DZD 41.3K
236.81%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Guelma: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $195 in Guelma. 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $23.00 in Guelma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $207 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 in Guelma?
Mexico City and Guelma differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $603 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?
Average pay runs 237% higher in Mexico City, 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 in Guelma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $195 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 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 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 144% 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