😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $624 in Bechar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $989 in Bechar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,354 in Bechar.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 65% more expensive than Bechar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Bechar53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$3.20DZD 424
85.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$23.67DZD 3,132
40.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$4.01DZD 530
80.80%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$0.71DZD 94.3
140.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$0.60DZD 80.1
81.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$0.21DZD 27.77
266.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$1.96DZD 260
-10.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$2.30DZD 304
38.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$0.99DZD 131
7.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$0.17DZD 21.88
664.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$1.63DZD 216
-15.34%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$1.79DZD 237
23.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$9.11DZD 1,206
-50.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$5.24DZD 693
10.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$16.72DZD 2,213
-46.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$3.08DZD 408
-25.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$2.95DZD 391
-64.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$1.76DZD 232
-14.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$0.79DZD 105
72.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$0.55DZD 73.4
110.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$0.50DZD 66.4
134.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$0.65DZD 86.3
27.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$0.28DZD 36.91
203.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$2.78DZD 367
-15.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$8.10DZD 1,072
36.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$1.29DZD 170
-10.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$2.17DZD 287
13.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$0.23DZD 30.31
243.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$17.44DZD 2,308
139.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$0.66DZD 87.2
118.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$0.34DZD 44.98
458.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$5.18DZD 686
48.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$0.36DZD 47.94
186.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$32.9KDZD 4.3M
-46.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$33.7KDZD 4.5M
-19.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$40.22DZD 5,323
102.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$9.21DZD 1,219
2.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$16.80DZD 2,223
41.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$23.25DZD 3,078
11.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$5.24DZD 694
-22.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$94.4DZD 12.5K
231.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$3,608DZD 477.5K
68.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$36.90DZD 4,884
59.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$46.33DZD 6,132
-29.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$74.3DZD 9,835
35.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$78.2DZD 10.4K
35.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$198DZD 26.2K
147.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$117DZD 15.4K
217.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$271DZD 35.8K
209.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$181DZD 23.9K
295.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
-
-
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Bechar: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $198 in Bechar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $24 in Bechar. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $209, 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 65% 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 vs Bechar?
You'd need roughly $1,544 in Medellin and $936 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 vs Bechar?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $198 in Bechar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs 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 $1,030 per month in Medellin versus $624 in Bechar – a 65% 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 Bechar?
At $624 in Bechar versus $1,030 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 $624 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 65% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.