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: $1,017 in Medellin versus $642 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,053 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,464 in Algiers.

Living in Medellin is roughly 58% more expensive than Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Algiers 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.16 DZD 419

88.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$24.14 DZD 3,199

38.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.60 DZD 609

57.17%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.02 DZD 135

59.80%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.56 DZD 74.3

94.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.21 DZD 27.83

247.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.89 DZD 251

-7.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.32 DZD 308

39.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.01 DZD 134

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.16 DZD 20.57

706.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.82 DZD 242

-27.47%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.88 DZD 249

20.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$9.04 DZD 1,198

-51.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.44 DZD 721

8.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$16.66 DZD 2,208

-48.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.05 DZD 405

-26.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.80 DZD 372

-61.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.72 DZD 228

-11.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.86 DZD 113

65.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.65 DZD 85.9

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.50 DZD 66.3

134.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.72 DZD 96.0

23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.30 DZD 39.92

200.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.74 DZD 363

-17.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.97 DZD 924

58.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.28 DZD 170

-10.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.06 DZD 273

15.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.33 DZD 44.01

154.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.43 DZD 1,515

267.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.71 DZD 93.7

98.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.37 DZD 48.65

413.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.71 DZD 757

35.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.37 DZD 48.57

172.97%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$35.8K DZD 4.8M

-50.96%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$34.3K DZD 4.5M

-22.75%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$40.89 DZD 5,419

104.65%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$9.44 DZD 1,251

0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$17.72 DZD 2,348

36.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$25.17 DZD 3,336

0.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$22.53 DZD 2,986

-15.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.01 DZD 796

-31.78%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$94.8 DZD 12.6K

229.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,578 DZD 474.3K

67.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$36.90 DZD 4,890

57.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$45.06 DZD 5,973

-27.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$74.5 DZD 9,867

33.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$75.6 DZD 10.0K

43.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$222 DZD 29.5K

116.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$150 DZD 19.9K

152.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$440 DZD 58.3K

90.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$266 DZD 35.2K

172.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,584 DZD 342.4K

9.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,410 DZD 186.9K

-13.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$340 DZD 45.1K

59.08%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Algiers: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $222 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 59% 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 $190 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 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Medellin pays 59% more on average, 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: $482 in Medellin versus $222 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 $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $642 in Algiers – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $642 in Algiers versus $1,017 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 58% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.