🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in El Oued versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $980 in El Oued versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,330 in El Oued versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in El Oued costs roughly 39% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Oued53% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85DZD 378
$5.92COP 21.5K
-51.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.19DZD 2,544
$32.75COP 119.1K
-41.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.44DZD 589
$7.20COP 26.2K
-38.33%
Cappuccino
$1.25DZD 166
$1.70COP 6,186
-26.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60DZD 80.0
$1.10COP 3,996
-45.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.31
$0.72COP 2,625
-68.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96DZD 260
$1.67COP 6,067
17.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34DZD 311
$3.10COP 11.3K
-24.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.06COP 3,837
-6.60%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 20.14
$1.25COP 4,531
-88.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62DZD 215
$1.39COP 5,060
16.55%
Eggs
$1.85DZD 246
$2.26COP 8,229
-18.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.15DZD 1,214
$4.33COP 15.8K
111.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.43DZD 720
$5.84COP 21.2K
-7.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.73DZD 2,219
$8.83COP 32.1K
89.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20DZD 425
$2.24COP 8,159
42.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92DZD 387
$1.08COP 3,911
170.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70DZD 225
$1.53COP 5,563
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79DZD 104
$1.37COP 4,987
-42.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55DZD 72.7
$1.13COP 4,109
-51.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 65.8
$1.12COP 4,067
-55.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64DZD 84.9
$0.85COP 3,080
-24.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.62
$0.91COP 3,305
-69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68DZD 355
$2.33COP 8,477
15.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.22DZD 825
$11.13COP 40.5K
-44.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 177
$1.19COP 4,342
12.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DZD 276
$2.37COP 8,617
-12.24%
🚌 Getting Around
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.45
$0.79COP 2,859
-70.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.70DZD 2,347
$41.13COP 149.6K
-56.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 94.7
$1.44COP 5,223
-50.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37DZD 48.52
$1.91COP 6,952
-80.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.14DZD 682
$8.02COP 29.2K
-35.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 48.41
$0.94COP 3,410
-60.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KDZD 4.4M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
83.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KDZD 4.5M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
27.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.37DZD 5,487
$84.0COP 305.4K
-50.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.29DZD 1,232
$9.60COP 34.9K
-3.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.90DZD 2,241
$24.16COP 87.9K
-30.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.67DZD 3,139
$25.88COP 94.1K
-8.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.54DZD 735
$3.92COP 14.2K
41.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.4DZD 12.4K
$306COP 1.1M
-69.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,556DZD 471.6K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-39.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.57DZD 4,850
$57.9COP 210.6K
-36.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.28DZD 6,006
$31.82COP 115.7K
42.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5DZD 9,878
$99.9COP 363.3K
-25.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4DZD 10.4K
$107COP 389.7K
-26.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$487COP 1.8M
-59.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117DZD 15.5K
$368COP 1.3M
-68.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269DZD 35.6K
$826COP 3.0M
-67.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181DZD 23.9K
$716COP 2.6M
-74.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$224DZD 29.8K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-92.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$247DZD 32.8K
$546COP 2.0M
-54.72%
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 El Oued: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in El Oued and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 121% 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: $19.00 in El Oued vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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
El Oued vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in El Oued and Medellin?
El Oued and Medellin differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($629 vs $1,034 including rent). El Oued is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Medellin earns 121% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in El Oued and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $195 in El Oued versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between El Oued and Medellin?
Childcare runs $93.4 in El Oued versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $629 in El Oued versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Oued but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes El Oued the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between El Oued and Medellin?
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 El Oued or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, El Oued 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.
Where should expats move: El Oued or Medellin?
Expats usually find El Oued gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.