Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Algiers Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Algiers

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $666 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,054 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,441 in Algiers.

Living in Medellin is roughly 51% more expensive than in Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Algiers 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$3.21 DZD 425

84.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$23.67 DZD 3,132

39.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$4.76 DZD 631

56.09%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$0.99 DZD 131

66.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.62 DZD 81.9

77.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.23 DZD 30.49

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$1.99 DZD 263

-13.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$2.36 DZD 312

34.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.04 DZD 138

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.13 DZD 17.75

869.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.76 DZD 234

-21.59%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.85 DZD 245

17.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$8.94 DZD 1,184

-49.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$5.46 DZD 723

6.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$16.69 DZD 2,209

-46.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$3.20 DZD 424

-27.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$2.84 DZD 376

-62.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$1.77 DZD 235

-14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$0.85 DZD 112

60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.60 DZD 78.8

88.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.49 DZD 65.5

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.67 DZD 88.7

34.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.28 DZD 36.89

221.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$2.79 DZD 369

-20.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$6.78 DZD 897

78.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$1.30 DZD 173

-8.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.11 DZD 279

17.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.34 DZD 44.42

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$11.76 DZD 1,556

253.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.70 DZD 92.6

102.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.34 DZD 44.45

473.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$5.43 DZD 719

45.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$0.36 DZD 47.76

175.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$36.4K DZD 4.8M

-51.61%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$33.5K DZD 4.4M

-20.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$40.96 DZD 5,422

102.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$9.37 DZD 1,241

3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$18.07 DZD 2,392

30.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$25.13 DZD 3,326

0.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$22.42 DZD 2,968

-14.81%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$6.19 DZD 819

-36.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 1.0M

$93.1 DZD 12.3K

239.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$3,574 DZD 473.0K

67.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$36.20 DZD 4,792

65.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$45.40 DZD 6,008

-29.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$74.6 DZD 9,873

36.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$78.3 DZD 10.4K

37.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$227 DZD 30.0K

109.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$150 DZD 19.9K

148.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$445 DZD 58.9K

90.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$263 DZD 34.9K

173.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$2,554 DZD 338.0K

27.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$1,377 DZD 182.2K

4.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$340 DZD 45.0K

83.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.42

147.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Algiers: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $227 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 84% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Algiers. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $208, 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

Medellin vs Algiers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 84% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $227 in Algiers. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $666 in Algiers – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $666 in Algiers versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Algiers 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.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Algiers are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.