🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $558 in Laghouat versus $1,030 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $908 in Laghouat versus $1,586 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,258 in Laghouat versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Laghouat costs roughly 46% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Laghouat58% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.70DZD 358
$5.92COP 21.2K
-54.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.67DZD 2,868
$33.17COP 118.7K
-34.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.82DZD 637
$7.25COP 25.9K
-33.52%
Cappuccino
$1.05DZD 139
$1.71COP 6,137
-38.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70DZD 92.2
$1.09COP 3,915
-35.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18DZD 24.26
$0.77COP 2,743
-76.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91DZD 253
$1.75COP 6,254
9.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42DZD 320
$3.18COP 11.4K
-23.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02DZD 135
$1.06COP 3,792
-3.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33DZD 43.12
$1.30COP 4,657
-74.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48DZD 328
$1.38COP 4,926
79.71%
Eggs
$1.88DZD 249
$2.21COP 7,908
-14.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.79DZD 502
$4.52COP 16.2K
-16.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.82DZD 903
$5.80COP 20.7K
17.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.33DZD 2,294
$8.97COP 32.1K
93.20%
Apples(1kg)
$4.21DZD 558
$2.29COP 8,182
83.84%
Banana(1kg)
$3.98DZD 526
$1.06COP 3,791
275.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77DZD 234
$1.51COP 5,411
17.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14DZD 151
$1.36COP 4,869
-16.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70DZD 93.0
$1.16COP 4,146
-39.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66DZD 87.5
$1.17COP 4,174
-43.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67DZD 88.8
$0.83COP 2,960
-19.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.36
$0.85COP 3,043
-64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29DZD 303
$2.35COP 8,423
-2.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.92DZD 916
$11.09COP 39.7K
-37.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31DZD 173
$1.15COP 4,133
13.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16DZD 285
$2.47COP 8,853
-12.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.11DZD 15.19
$0.79COP 2,827
-86.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.31DZD 2,290
$41.85COP 149.8K
-58.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76DZD 100
$1.44COP 5,140
-47.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28DZD 36.75
$1.90COP 6,793
-85.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18DZD 817
$7.70COP 27.6K
-19.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 49.00
$1.03COP 3,680
-64.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KDZD 3.9M
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
68.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.7KDZD 7.5M
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
110.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.19DZD 5,451
$81.4COP 291.4K
-49.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.46DZD 1,252
$9.42COP 33.7K
0.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.79DZD 2,619
$23.77COP 85.1K
-16.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.64DZD 2,334
$25.86COP 92.6K
-31.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.45DZD 721
$4.05COP 14.5K
34.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2DZD 12.5K
$312COP 1.1M
-69.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,605DZD 477.1K
$6,067COP 21.7M
-40.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.60DZD 3,784
$58.9COP 210.7K
-51.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50DZD 6,021
$32.82COP 117.5K
38.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.2DZD 7,565
$100COP 359.6K
-43.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7DZD 9,218
$106COP 380.3K
-34.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$125DZD 16.6K
$490COP 1.8M
-74.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.6DZD 9,476
$371COP 1.3M
-80.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178DZD 23.6K
$838COP 3.0M
-78.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118DZD 15.6K
$715COP 2.6M
-83.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$454DZD 60.1K
$2,952COP 10.6M
-84.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$310DZD 41.0K
$1,394COP 5.0M
-77.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laghouat
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$361DZD 47.8K
$532COP 1.9M
-32.13%
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 Laghouat: April 21, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $125 in Laghouat and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 47% 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: $22 in Laghouat vs $33 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 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
Laghouat vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Laghouat?
Laghouat is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Laghouat or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 47% less. 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: $125 in Laghouat versus $490 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Laghouat vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $558 per month in Laghouat versus $1,030 in Medellin – a 85% 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 142% 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 Laghouat or Medellin?
At $558 in Laghouat versus $1,030 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 85% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.