😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $569 in Ain Beida, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $930 in Ain Beida, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,292 in Ain Beida, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 196% more than Ain Beida, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Ain Beida is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$3.11DZD 413
153.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$18.97DZD 2,515
134.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$4.10DZD 544
126.59%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$0.90DZD 120
222.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.66DZD 87.1
174.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.25DZD 32.94
520.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.44DZD 191
125.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.55DZD 338
130.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$0.85DZD 112
62.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.14DZD 19.08
1650.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.07DZD 275
-27.05%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.38DZD 183
101.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$13.62DZD 1,805
-33.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$4.83DZD 640
120.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$16.00DZD 2,120
-8.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.59DZD 344
53.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.83DZD 375
-51.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.29DZD 172
78.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$0.99DZD 132
104.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.69DZD 90.8
202.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.51DZD 67.2
219.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.75DZD 99.8
44.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.28DZD 37.10
346.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$2.80DZD 371
43.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$6.83DZD 905
97.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.43DZD 189
11.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.20DZD 292
36.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.16DZD 21.79
637.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$5.83DZD 773
1271.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.59DZD 77.8
172.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.45DZD 59.5
373.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$5.27DZD 698
61.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$0.33DZD 43.86
309.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$35.9KDZD 4.8M
-21.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$35.0KDZD 4.6M
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$39.06DZD 5,177
287.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$10.04DZD 1,331
30.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$13.34DZD 1,768
142.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$19.70DZD 2,611
135.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$4.69DZD 621
37.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$110DZD 14.6K
659.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$5,324DZD 705.6K
66.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$33.54DZD 4,445
166.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$35.19DZD 4,663
57.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$63.3DZD 8,390
115.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$68.3DZD 9,048
60.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$131DZD 17.4K
624.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$97.1DZD 12.9K
587.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$284DZD 37.6K
612.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$173DZD 22.9K
563.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$1,181DZD 156.5K
213.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,178DZD 156.1K
34.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ain Beida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$313DZD 41.4K
100.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
5.3
96.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Ain Beida: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $131 in Ain Beida. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 100% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Ain Beida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $211 – making Ain Beida the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Medellin vs Ain Beida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Ain Beida compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,687 in Medellin, $569 in Ain Beida – roughly 196% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Ain Beida?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $854 in Ain Beida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Ain Beida?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ain Beida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Ain Beida?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $569 in Ain Beida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Ain Beida?
Public transport costs about 1271% less in Ain Beida. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ain Beida, where all-in costs run around $569, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Ain Beida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Ain Beida?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $569 in Ain Beida to $1,687 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Ain Beida safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Medellin and Ain Beida?
If budget matters most, go with Ain Beida. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.