🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $519 in Laghouat versus $1,687 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Laghouat versus $2,535 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Laghouat versus $3,383 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Laghouat costs roughly 69% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Laghouat is 62% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.73DZD 495
$7.89COP 24.2K
-52.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.07DZD 2,793
$44.53COP 136.5K
-52.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.75DZD 629
$9.29COP 28.5K
-48.87%
Cappuccino
$1.02DZD 135
$2.90COP 8,874
-64.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63DZD 83.3
$1.81COP 5,541
-65.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17DZD 23.09
$1.55COP 4,741
-89.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65DZD 218
$3.25COP 9,962
-49.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30DZD 305
$5.88COP 18.0K
-60.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 137
$1.38COP 4,230
-25.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 19.23
$2.45COP 7,517
-93.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57DZD 341
$1.51COP 4,617
70.20%
Eggs
$1.91DZD 253
$2.78COP 8,516
-31.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49DZD 596
$9.05COP 27.7K
-50.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.86DZD 777
$10.65COP 32.6K
-44.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.22DZD 2,018
$14.63COP 44.8K
4.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.96DZD 525
$3.97COP 12.2K
-0.25%
Banana(1kg)
$3.66DZD 485
$1.38COP 4,219
165.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08DZD 276
$2.30COP 7,056
-9.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09DZD 144
$2.02COP 6,185
-46.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60DZD 79.5
$2.09COP 6,390
-71.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62DZD 81.6
$1.63COP 4,996
-61.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55DZD 72.5
$1.08COP 3,313
-49.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32DZD 42.57
$1.25COP 3,843
-74.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.31DZD 306
$4.03COP 12.4K
-42.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03DZD 931
$13.47COP 41.3K
-47.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28DZD 169
$1.60COP 4,904
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09DZD 278
$3.00COP 9,189
-30.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11DZD 14.14
$1.18COP 3,611
-90.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.32DZD 705
$79.9COP 244.9K
-93.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.80DZD 106
$1.61COP 4,920
-50.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 45.61
$2.13COP 6,533
-84.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12DZD 811
$8.52COP 26.1K
-28.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 45.45
$1.35COP 4,142
-74.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KDZD 4.0M
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.6KDZD 5.9M
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
24.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.59DZD 5,115
$151COP 463.8K
-74.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41DZD 850
$13.10COP 40.1K
-51.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.79DZD 2,226
$32.30COP 99.0K
-48.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.12DZD 1,871
$46.33COP 141.9K
-69.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.72DZD 626
$6.43COP 19.7K
-26.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.9DZD 8,071
$835COP 2.6M
-92.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,302DZD 570.1K
$8,887COP 27.2M
-51.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.82DZD 3,820
$89.3COP 273.7K
-67.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.36DZD 4,554
$55.3COP 169.5K
-37.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.6DZD 7,632
$137COP 418.5K
-57.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.3DZD 9,575
$109COP 335.1K
-33.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$99.7DZD 13.2K
$952COP 2.9M
-89.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$56.7DZD 7,516
$668COP 2.0M
-91.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$162DZD 21.5K
$2,020COP 6.2M
-91.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$110DZD 14.6K
$1,148COP 3.5M
-90.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$442DZD 58.6K
$3,696COP 11.3M
-88.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$302DZD 40.0K
$1,586COP 4.9M
-80.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$356DZD 47.2K
$625COP 1.9M
-43.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
10.43
-49.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laghouat: August 17, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $99.7 in Laghouat and $952 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 76% 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: $21.00 in Laghouat vs $45.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $297 per month, with Laghouat 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
Laghouat vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Laghouat?
Laghouat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 225% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Laghouat or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 76% 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.
What is the rent difference between Laghouat and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $99.7 in Laghouat versus $952 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Laghouat and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $519 per month in Laghouat versus $1,687 in Medellin – a 225% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Laghouat runs roughly 1403% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Laghouat or in Medellin?
At $519 in Laghouat versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Laghouat but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Laghouat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Laghouat or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Laghouat 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.
Which city is safer, Laghouat or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Laghouat 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Laghouat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 225% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.