🙂A single person spends $603 per month in Abalessa vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $976 per month in Abalessa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,349 per month in Abalessa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Abalessa is about 41% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Abalessa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Abalessa55% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.15DZD 418
$5.95COP 20.8K
-47.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.02DZD 3,184
$33.33COP 116.3K
-27.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.93DZD 521
$7.23COP 25.2K
-45.64%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 95.6
$1.63COP 5,687
-55.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 81.1
$1.09COP 3,821
-44.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.83
$0.73COP 2,548
-71.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 263
$1.74COP 6,065
14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40DZD 318
$3.23COP 11.3K
-25.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00DZD 132
$1.05COP 3,662
-4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 19.83
$1.29COP 4,515
-88.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57DZD 208
$1.32COP 4,617
18.94%
Eggs
$1.87DZD 248
$2.27COP 7,927
-17.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20DZD 1,220
$4.35COP 15.2K
111.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.32DZD 706
$5.88COP 20.5K
-9.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.59DZD 2,199
$8.61COP 30.0K
92.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23DZD 428
$2.25COP 7,844
43.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82DZD 373
$1.07COP 3,733
163.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 227
$1.52COP 5,322
13.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80DZD 106
$1.42COP 4,964
-43.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55DZD 72.7
$1.17COP 4,084
-52.99%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.5
$1.17COP 4,077
-58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62DZD 81.8
$0.89COP 3,096
-30.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.09
$0.90COP 3,146
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77DZD 367
$2.25COP 7,837
23.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13DZD 945
$11.04COP 38.5K
-35.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$1.14COP 3,977
17.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17DZD 288
$2.38COP 8,301
-8.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.29
$0.84COP 2,916
-72.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.66DZD 2,340
$41.95COP 146.4K
-57.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 93.9
$1.41COP 4,912
-49.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.90
$1.90COP 6,634
-82.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.19DZD 687
$7.75COP 27.0K
-33.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 45.04
$1.01COP 3,509
-66.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KDZD 4.3M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
82.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
26.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.75DZD 5,401
$83.7COP 292.1K
-51.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56DZD 1,267
$9.45COP 33.0K
1.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.12DZD 2,269
$24.11COP 84.1K
-28.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.47DZD 3,111
$25.31COP 88.3K
-7.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.44DZD 721
$4.10COP 14.3K
32.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.9DZD 12.6K
$312COP 1.1M
-69.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,616DZD 479.2K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-39.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.47DZD 4,966
$58.0COP 202.6K
-35.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.80DZD 5,937
$32.56COP 113.6K
37.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2DZD 9,962
$99.6COP 347.7K
-24.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2DZD 10.4K
$109COP 378.8K
-27.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194DZD 25.7K
$482COP 1.7M
-59.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.3K
$379COP 1.3M
-69.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.7K
$837COP 2.9M
-66.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183DZD 24.3K
$723COP 2.5M
-74.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,113DZD 147.5K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-60.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,094DZD 145.0K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-10.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abalessa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
13.43
-59.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abalessa: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Abalessa versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Abalessa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Abalessa vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Abalessa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abalessa or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 69% more than Abalessa, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Abalessa vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $904 per month in Abalessa and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Abalessa or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abalessa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Abalessa or Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Abalessa vs Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Abalessa and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Abalessa or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abalessa, where all-in costs run around $603, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Abalessa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Abalessa or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abalessa costs $603 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Abalessa or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Abalessa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.