Tlemcen vs Mascara Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Tlemcen vs Mascara: everyday costs favor Tlemcen (~2% CPI gap), housing index favors Tlemcen, wage stretch favors Mascara. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Tlemcen
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (4% gap, Mascara ahead); Purchasing Power (4% gap, Mascara ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $4 lower in Tlemcen than in Mascara (~3% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $4 (favoring Tlemcen).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Tlemcen | CPI 12.3 vs 12.5 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Tlemcen | Rent index 3.4 vs 3.5 (lower is better) |
| Food | Tlemcen | Groceries index 19.8 vs 20.1 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Tlemcen | One-way ticket 22.71 vs 23.1 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Tlemcen | Utilities (85m²) 918 vs 945 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Tlemcen | Internet 1426.95 vs 1455.3 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Tlemcen | Restaurant index 10.8 vs 10.8 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Mascara | Avg net salary 99603 vs 95418 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Mascara | PP index 11.9 vs 11.4 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Mascara leads with a 4% gap.
Avg net salary 99603 vs 95418 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Tlemcen — Lower housing / rent index (3% gap).
- Families: Tlemcen — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Tlemcen; purchasing power favors Mascara.
- Remote Workers: Tlemcen — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Tlemcen (~2% gap).
- Budget Living: Tlemcen — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Tlemcen is the overall cost winner on CPI (~2% lower everyday-cost index than Mascara).
- Housing: Tlemcen leads on rent index (3% gap).
- Food / groceries: Tlemcen is lower (2% gap).
- Purchasing power: Mascara scores higher (4% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (4%), favoring Mascara.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$4 cheaper in Tlemcen.
Analysis
Tlemcen versus Mascara is not a single number. With a 2% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Tlemcen, while housing follows Tlemcen's rent index. Purchasing power (11.4 vs 11.9) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.