🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $563 in El Oued versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $896 in El Oued versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,228 in El Oued versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in El Oued costs roughly 66% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Oued is 59% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94DZD 393
$8.02COP 25.0K
-63.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.26DZD 2,707
$47.87COP 149.4K
-57.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.59DZD 614
$9.89COP 30.8K
-53.59%
Cappuccino
$1.26DZD 169
$3.13COP 9,767
-59.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16DZD 155
$1.91COP 5,954
-39.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53DZD 70.9
$1.51COP 4,712
-64.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49DZD 199
$3.12COP 9,747
-52.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12DZD 283
$5.75COP 17.9K
-63.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90DZD 120
$1.44COP 4,509
-37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.24
$2.49COP 7,759
-94.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11DZD 149
$1.77COP 5,535
-37.29%
Eggs
$1.39DZD 186
$2.96COP 9,235
-53.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.12DZD 1,085
$10.07COP 31.4K
-19.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.04DZD 539
$10.12COP 31.6K
-60.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.86DZD 1,985
$14.30COP 44.6K
3.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07DZD 277
$4.14COP 12.9K
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82DZD 376
$1.61COP 5,019
75.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11DZD 148
$2.25COP 7,007
-50.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.00DZD 134
$2.25COP 7,028
-55.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64DZD 85.5
$2.04COP 6,375
-68.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47DZD 62.6
$1.54COP 4,790
-69.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70DZD 93.4
$1.17COP 3,651
-40.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.42
$1.31COP 4,077
-80.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73DZD 365
$3.90COP 12.2K
-30.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.57DZD 1,012
$14.01COP 43.7K
-45.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 172
$1.74COP 5,439
-25.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02DZD 270
$2.87COP 8,956
-29.62%
🚌 Getting Around
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18DZD 23.51
$1.22COP 3,792
-85.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.57DZD 744
$80.5COP 251.1K
-93.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59DZD 78.9
$1.31COP 4,084
-54.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38DZD 50.6
$2.19COP 6,825
-82.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.90DZD 655
$8.71COP 27.2K
-43.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 48.98
$1.37COP 4,260
-72.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KDZD 4.9M
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
31.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KDZD 4.7M
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-2.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.84DZD 5,189
$177COP 553.2K
-78.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.03DZD 1,206
$13.88COP 43.3K
-34.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.30DZD 1,644
$29.72COP 92.8K
-58.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.76DZD 2,773
$44.88COP 140.1K
-53.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.73DZD 631
$6.65COP 20.7K
-28.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$103DZD 13.8K
$813COP 2.5M
-87.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,078DZD 411.2K
$9,187COP 28.7M
-66.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.67DZD 4,498
$89.5COP 279.3K
-62.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.20DZD 4,836
$59.0COP 184.0K
-38.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0DZD 9,479
$138COP 431.2K
-48.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.6DZD 9,967
$102COP 318.7K
-26.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$161DZD 21.6K
$1,062COP 3.3M
-84.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$109DZD 14.5K
$663COP 2.1M
-83.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280DZD 37.5K
$1,888COP 5.9M
-85.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$206DZD 27.5K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-79.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,316DZD 175.7K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-68.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Oued
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$265DZD 35.4K
$678COP 2.1M
-60.90%
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 El Oued: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $161 in El Oued and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 156% 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: $20.00 in El Oued vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $305 per month, with El Oued 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
El Oued vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in El Oued and in Medellin?
El Oued and Medellin differ by about 198% in total monthly costs ($563 vs $1,681 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, salaries run 156% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in El Oued and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $161 in El Oued versus $1,062 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 $103 in El Oued versus $813 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $563 in El Oued versus $1,681 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 198% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.