Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Annaba

For one person, living is cheaper in Annaba: $600 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Annaba
🇩🇿 Algeria
$600
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Annaba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Annaba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $600 in Annaba.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Annaba $600

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $978 in Annaba.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Annaba $978

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $1,356 in Annaba.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Annaba $1,356

Living in Medellin is roughly 169% more expensive than in Annaba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Annaba is 56% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$2.84 DZD 380
179.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$31.75 DZD 4,250
45.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$6.26 DZD 838
51.76%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$0.67 DZD 90.2
364.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$0.76 DZD 102
140.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.26 DZD 34.88
430.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$1.67 DZD 224
82.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$2.48 DZD 332
121.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$0.89 DZD 119
62.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$0.25 DZD 33.43
844.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.56 DZD 209
7.69%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$1.89 DZD 253
51.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$6.11 DZD 819
66.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$4.81 DZD 643
98.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$19.77 DZD 2,647
-28.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.02 DZD 271
101.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$3.30 DZD 441
-54.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$1.12 DZD 150
93.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$0.70 DZD 94.4
230.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$0.65 DZD 87.3
196.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$0.40 DZD 53.4
310.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$0.50 DZD 66.6
126.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.36 DZD 47.65
247.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$2.96 DZD 397
34.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$6.22 DZD 833
114.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.28 DZD 172
32.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$1.96 DZD 263
20.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.15 DZD 20.52
706.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$6.64 DZD 889
1051.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$0.55 DZD 73.8
140.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.38 DZD 51.1
463.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$5.37 DZD 719
57.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$0.36 DZD 48.40
261.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$31.3K DZD 4.2M
-10.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$33.6K DZD 4.5M
5.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$49.21 DZD 6,588
249.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$8.55 DZD 1,145
56.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$20.22 DZD 2,708
42.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$21.18 DZD 2,835
113.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$4.59 DZD 614
271.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$6.22 DZD 833
0.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$37.38 DZD 5,005
1960.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$4,801 DZD 642.8K
87.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$31.86 DZD 4,265
171.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$40.11 DZD 5,370
42.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$67.1 DZD 8,977
103.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$82.2 DZD 11.0K
19.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$165 DZD 22.1K
538.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$116 DZD 15.5K
430.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$285 DZD 38.2K
564.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$199 DZD 26.6K
415.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$891 DZD 119.3K
355.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$601 DZD 80.4K
179.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$301 DZD 40.3K
116.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.75
90.26%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Annaba: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Annaba
$116 81.2% $500
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Annaba
$197 33.3% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Annaba
$78 63.6% $136
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Annaba
$100 41.5% $71
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Annaba
$67 60.2% $101
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Annaba
$9.7 89.6% $84
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Annaba
$34 41.8% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $165 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 117% 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: $46.00 in Medellin vs $32.00 in Annaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $197 per month, with Annaba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇩🇿 Annaba
🕒 Local time
22:34 10:34 PM
04:34 4:34 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
257,359
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Annaba 9,000 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Annaba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Annaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annaba cheaper than Medellin?
Annaba is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 169% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Annaba?
Average pay runs 117% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Annaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $165 in Annaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Annaba runs roughly 1052% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $770 in Medellin versus $37.38 in Annaba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Annaba?
At $600 in Annaba versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Annaba but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Annaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Annaba more family-friendly?
For families, Annaba 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, Medellin or Annaba?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Annaba 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 Annaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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