😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $617 in Bechar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $967 in Bechar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,318 in Bechar.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 63% more expensive than in Bechar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Bechar54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$3.24DZD 429
82.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$23.85DZD 3,156
38.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$3.84DZD 509
93.49%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$0.77DZD 102
114.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$0.61DZD 80.5
80.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.21DZD 27.71
271.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$1.99DZD 263
-13.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$2.43DZD 322
30.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$1.03DZD 136
6.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$0.16DZD 20.97
687.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$1.56DZD 206
-11.54%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$1.79DZD 237
21.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$8.80DZD 1,164
-48.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$5.31DZD 703
9.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$16.29DZD 2,157
-44.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$3.20DZD 424
-27.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$2.94DZD 389
-63.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$1.70DZD 225
-10.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$0.78DZD 104
74.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$0.55DZD 72.8
105.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$0.47DZD 61.7
148.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$0.65DZD 86.0
38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$0.28DZD 36.83
221.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$2.82DZD 373
-20.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$6.63DZD 877
82.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$1.33DZD 176
-10.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$2.08DZD 275
19.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$0.23DZD 30.23
269.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$17.49DZD 2,315
137.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$0.71DZD 93.3
100.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$0.33DZD 44.19
490.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$5.18DZD 685
52.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$0.33DZD 44.09
200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
-44.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$33.7KDZD 4.5M
-20.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$40.48DZD 5,358
105.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$9.40DZD 1,244
3.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$16.92DZD 2,239
39.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$23.15DZD 3,064
9.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$5.56DZD 735
-28.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$95.9DZD 12.7K
229.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$3,594DZD 475.6K
66.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$37.41DZD 4,951
60.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$45.30DZD 5,996
-29.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$74.5DZD 9,860
36.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$76.3DZD 10.1K
40.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$194DZD 25.7K
144.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$113DZD 15.0K
230.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$270DZD 35.8K
214.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$183DZD 24.3K
292.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$1,086DZD 143.7K
200.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$1,240DZD 164.1K
16.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Bechar: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $194 in Bechar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Bechar. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $204, 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 Bechar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bechar?
Bechar wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bechar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Bechar?
You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $925 in Bechar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Bechar?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $194 in Bechar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Bechar?
Dining out is cheaper in Bechar – 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.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Bechar?
All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $617 in Bechar – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Bechar?
At $617 in Bechar versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bechar but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bechar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bechar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bechar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $617 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bechar hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bechar?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bechar 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bechar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.