πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $657 in Annaba.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,074 in Annaba.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,491 in Annaba.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 57% more expensive than Annaba, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Annaba51% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$3.02DZDΒ 400
96.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$32.23DZDΒ 4,271
1.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$6.39DZDΒ 847
12.68%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$1.43DZDΒ 189
18.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$0.80DZDΒ 106
37.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.27DZDΒ 36.03
166.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$1.98DZDΒ 262
-15.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$2.34DZDΒ 310
32.48%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$0.99DZDΒ 131
7.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.28DZDΒ 36.89
346.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.79DZDΒ 237
-22.35%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.06DZDΒ 273
9.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$6.14DZDΒ 814
-29.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$4.97DZDΒ 658
17.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$20.91DZDΒ 2,771
-57.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$3.05DZDΒ 404
-26.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$3.54DZDΒ 469
-69.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.70DZDΒ 225
-10.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$0.78DZDΒ 104
75.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.66DZDΒ 87.3
71.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.38DZDΒ 50.0
194.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$0.54DZDΒ 72.0
57.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.34DZDΒ 44.57
167.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$3.05DZDΒ 404
-23.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$6.74DZDΒ 893
65.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$1.29DZDΒ 172
-7.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.06DZDΒ 273
15.05%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.18DZDΒ 23.72
338.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$17.54DZDΒ 2,325
134.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$0.66DZDΒ 88.0
118.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.34DZDΒ 44.56
461.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$5.45DZDΒ 723
47.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$0.38DZDΒ 49.90
147.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$32.4KDZDΒ 4.3M
-44.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$33.1KDZDΒ 4.4M
-19.02%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$50.6DZDΒ 6,703
65.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$11.08DZDΒ 1,468
-13.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$22.85DZDΒ 3,028
5.73%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$23.52DZDΒ 3,117
10.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$4.55DZDΒ 603
318.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$1.92DZDΒ 254
104.17%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$39.84DZDΒ 5,279
668.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$3,627DZDΒ 480.6K
63.17%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$58.3DZDΒ 7,727
-0.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$41.03DZDΒ 5,436
-22.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$69.4DZDΒ 9,199
43.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$87.4DZDΒ 11.6K
22.64%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$171DZDΒ 22.6K
185.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$120DZDΒ 15.9K
206.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$298DZDΒ 39.5K
177.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$209DZDΒ 27.7K
242.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$931DZDΒ 123.4K
214.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$628DZDΒ 83.2K
124.05%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$319DZDΒ 42.2K
71.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.75
133.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Annaba: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $171 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 71% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $32.00 in Annaba. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $214, 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 Annaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annaba cheaper than Medellin?
Annaba is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Annaba?
Medellin pays 71% more on average, 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: $487 in Medellin versus $171 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 134% 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 $306 in Medellin versus $39.84 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 Medellin or Annaba?
At $657 in Annaba versus $1,034 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 β expenses run 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.