🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $540 in Bechar versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $883 in Bechar versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,227 in Bechar versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bechar costs roughly 67% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bechar is 61% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31DZD 439
$8.04COP 24.8K
-58.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.75DZD 2,222
$48.29COP 148.6K
-65.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.16DZD 551
$9.42COP 29.0K
-55.84%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 98.0
$2.94COP 9,040
-74.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63DZD 83.5
$1.86COP 5,735
-66.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.15
$1.46COP 4,479
-79.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48DZD 196
$3.21COP 9,882
-53.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12DZD 281
$5.71COP 17.6K
-62.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87DZD 116
$1.44COP 4,428
-39.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 21.07
$2.40COP 7,389
-93.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15DZD 153
$1.70COP 5,228
-32.35%
Eggs
$1.34DZD 178
$2.89COP 8,896
-53.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30DZD 1,100
$10.06COP 30.9K
-17.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.02DZD 533
$9.97COP 30.7K
-59.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.09DZD 2,001
$14.20COP 43.7K
6.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15DZD 285
$3.98COP 12.3K
-45.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92DZD 388
$1.58COP 4,878
84.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11DZD 147
$2.15COP 6,624
-48.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.01DZD 134
$2.30COP 7,078
-56.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64DZD 85.5
$2.00COP 6,169
-68.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47DZD 62.0
$1.51COP 4,646
-68.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71DZD 93.9
$1.20COP 3,701
-40.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 37.31
$1.28COP 3,946
-78.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79DZD 370
$3.84COP 11.8K
-27.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94DZD 921
$14.01COP 43.1K
-50.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27DZD 169
$1.71COP 5,256
-25.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03DZD 269
$2.74COP 8,440
-25.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16DZD 21.58
$1.25COP 3,834
-87.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.21DZD 823
$77.9COP 239.7K
-92.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59DZD 78.5
$1.31COP 4,016
-54.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42DZD 55.6
$2.17COP 6,680
-80.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.07DZD 673
$8.29COP 25.5K
-38.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.27
$1.36COP 4,172
-73.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KDZD 4.8M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
31.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KDZD 4.7M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-3.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.79DZD 5,277
$169COP 519.2K
-76.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.98DZD 1,191
$13.57COP 41.8K
-33.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.95DZD 1,717
$28.32COP 87.2K
-54.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.24DZD 2,817
$45.71COP 140.7K
-53.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.60DZD 610
$6.65COP 20.5K
-30.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$101DZD 13.4K
$803COP 2.5M
-87.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,296DZD 437.1K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-64.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.84DZD 4,356
$87.4COP 268.8K
-62.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.60DZD 4,720
$59.4COP 182.7K
-40.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8DZD 9,649
$139COP 427.5K
-47.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4DZD 10.1K
$102COP 314.0K
-25.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$163DZD 21.6K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-84.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$110DZD 14.6K
$653COP 2.0M
-83.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280DZD 37.1K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-85.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$211DZD 28.0K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-79.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,277DZD 169.4K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-69.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bechar
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
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 Bechar: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $163 in Bechar and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Bechar vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $300 per month, with Bechar 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
Bechar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bechar or Medellin?
Bechar wins on cost – living expenses run 204% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bechar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bechar and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $810 in Bechar and $2,462 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bechar compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $163 in Bechar versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bechar and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bechar – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bechar compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $540 per month in Bechar versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 204% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bechar or in Medellin?
At $540 in Bechar versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bechar but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bechar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bechar or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bechar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $540 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bechar hard to pass up.
How safe is Bechar compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bechar 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bechar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 204% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.