Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Annaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Annaba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $633 in Annaba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,009 in Annaba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,384 in Annaba.

Living in Medellin is roughly 167% more expensive than in Annaba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Annaba is 54% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$2.98 DZD 395
164.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$32.83 DZD 4,351
35.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$6.36 DZD 843
46.07%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$0.92 DZD 122
215.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$0.80 DZD 106
126.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$0.25 DZD 32.89
520.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$1.77 DZD 235
83.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$2.28 DZD 302
157.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$0.99 DZD 132
39.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$0.30 DZD 40.07
716.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$1.78 DZD 236
-15.17%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$1.36 DZD 181
104.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$6.17 DZD 818
46.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$5.00 DZD 662
113.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$20.69 DZD 2,742
-29.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$2.60 DZD 345
52.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$3.55 DZD 471
-61.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$1.24 DZD 165
85.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$0.74 DZD 98.6
172.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$0.68 DZD 89.6
207.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$0.38 DZD 49.85
328.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$0.50 DZD 65.6
116.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$0.36 DZD 48.24
247.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$3.18 DZD 421
26.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$7.46 DZD 989
80.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$1.28 DZD 170
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$1.96 DZD 259
53.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
$0.18 DZD 24.47
555.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
$5.73 DZD 759
1295.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$0.60 DZD 78.9
168.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$0.43 DZD 56.7
395.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$5.52 DZD 732
54.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$0.34 DZD 45.45
297.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$36.5K DZD 4.8M
-22.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$35.7K DZD 4.7M
-0.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$49.66 DZD 6,582
204.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$8.73 DZD 1,156
50.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$23.39 DZD 3,099
38.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
$23.50 DZD 3,115
97.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
$4.78 DZD 633
261.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$1.94 DZD 258
231.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$39.20 DZD 5,195
2029.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$4,929 DZD 653.3K
80.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$33.12 DZD 4,390
169.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$42.23 DZD 5,597
30.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$69.2 DZD 9,176
97.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$88.0 DZD 11.7K
24.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
$172 DZD 22.7K
455.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
$125 DZD 16.6K
434.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
$297 DZD 39.4K
580.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
$202 DZD 26.8K
467.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
$949 DZD 125.8K
289.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$638 DZD 84.5K
148.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$319 DZD 42.3K
96.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
5.75
81.39%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Annaba: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $172 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 96% 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $33.00 in Annaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $209 per month, with Annaba cheaper across the board.

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 & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 167% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Annaba?
Average pay runs 96% 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: $952 in Medellin versus $172 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 1295% 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 $835 in Medellin versus $39.20 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 $633 in Annaba versus $1,687 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 167% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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