Cost of Living Comparison Between Algiers and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Algiers and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $598 in Algiers versus $1,641 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Algiers versus $2,447 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,399 in Algiers versus $3,253 in Medellin.

Living in Algiers costs roughly 64% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Algiers is 57% below, Medellin is 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 DZD 469

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-56.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.65 DZD 3,808

$48.29 COP 148.7K

-40.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 DZD 614

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-50.96%

Cappuccino

$1.16 DZD 154

$2.94 COP 9,045

-60.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 DZD 83.1

$1.86 COP 5,738

-66.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 DZD 40.24

$1.46 COP 4,481

-79.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 DZD 311

$3.21 COP 9,887

-27.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 DZD 310

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-59.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 DZD 121

$1.44 COP 4,431

-36.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 DZD 20.91

$2.40 COP 7,393

-93.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 DZD 160

$1.70 COP 5,230

-29.41%

Eggs

$1.40 DZD 186

$2.89 COP 8,901

-51.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 DZD 1,083

$10.06 COP 31.0K

-18.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 DZD 533

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-59.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 DZD 1,960

$14.20 COP 43.7K

3.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 DZD 293

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-44.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 DZD 379

$1.58 COP 4,880

80.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 DZD 149

$2.15 COP 6,627

-47.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 DZD 127

$2.30 COP 7,082

-58.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 DZD 84.0

$2.00 COP 6,172

-68.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 DZD 67.5

$1.51 COP 4,648

-66.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 DZD 111

$1.20 COP 3,703

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 DZD 37.28

$1.28 COP 3,948

-78.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 DZD 422

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-17.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 DZD 938

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-49.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 DZD 177

$1.71 COP 5,259

-22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 DZD 262

$2.74 COP 8,444

-28.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 DZD 50.9

$1.25 COP 3,836

-69.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.08 DZD 940

$77.9 COP 239.9K

-90.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 DZD 73.3

$1.31 COP 4,018

-58.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 DZD 59.4

$2.17 COP 6,684

-79.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 DZD 756

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-31.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 DZD 46.00

$1.36 COP 4,174

-74.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

$27.5K COP 84.6M

30.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

$36.5K COP 112.5M

-1.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$45.12 DZD 5,996

$169 COP 519.5K

-73.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.91 DZD 1,450

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-19.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 DZD 1,718

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-54.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.24 DZD 3,487

$45.71 COP 140.8K

-42.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.34 DZD 3,766

$17.22 COP 53.0K

64.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 DZD 621

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-29.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$570 DZD 75.7K

$803 COP 2.5M

-29.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,496 DZD 863.2K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-29.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.79 DZD 4,490

$87.4 COP 269.0K

-61.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.54 DZD 4,723

$59.4 COP 182.8K

-40.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 DZD 9,688

$139 COP 427.7K

-47.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.3 DZD 10.9K

$102 COP 314.2K

-19.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 DZD 22.8K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-84.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 DZD 17.9K

$653 COP 2.0M

-79.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 DZD 61.0K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-76.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 DZD 33.3K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-76.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,552 DZD 339.2K

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-38.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,408 DZD 187.1K

$1,697 COP 5.2M

-17.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$337 DZD 44.8K

$655 COP 2.0M

-48.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.3

10.94

-51.55%

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

Last update for Algiers: September 5, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $171 in Algiers and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 94% 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: $29.00 in Algiers vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $300 per month, with Algiers 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

Algiers vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 174% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 94% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $171 in Algiers versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $598 per month in Algiers versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 174% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $598 in Algiers versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Algiers is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Algiers and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 174% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.