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