πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $610 in Bechar.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $969 in Bechar.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,328 in Bechar.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 67% more expensive than Bechar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Bechar55% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$3.22DZDΒ 427
84.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$23.46DZDΒ 3,109
42.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$3.89DZDΒ 516
85.86%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$0.77DZDΒ 102
111.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.57DZDΒ 75.7
91.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.21DZDΒ 27.74
247.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$1.92DZDΒ 255
-9.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$2.36DZDΒ 312
36.86%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$0.99DZDΒ 132
6.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.16DZDΒ 20.92
706.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.59DZDΒ 210
-16.98%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.81DZDΒ 240
25.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$8.98DZDΒ 1,190
-51.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$5.14DZDΒ 681
14.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$16.79DZDΒ 2,225
-48.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$3.11DZDΒ 412
-27.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.97DZDΒ 393
-63.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.73DZDΒ 229
-12.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$0.76DZDΒ 100
86.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.59DZDΒ 78.5
98.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.47DZDΒ 61.7
148.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.64DZDΒ 85.5
39.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.28DZDΒ 36.55
221.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$2.81DZDΒ 372
-19.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$5.92DZDΒ 785
86.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.35DZDΒ 178
-15.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$2.07DZDΒ 275
14.98%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.25DZDΒ 33.40
236.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$17.15DZDΒ 2,273
144.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$0.67DZDΒ 88.7
110.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.36DZDΒ 47.74
427.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$5.44DZDΒ 721
42.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$0.34DZDΒ 44.69
197.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$32.8KDZDΒ 4.3M
-46.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$33.3KDZDΒ 4.4M
-20.37%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$40.18DZDΒ 5,325
108.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$9.52DZDΒ 1,261
-0.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$16.91DZDΒ 2,241
42.58%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$23.61DZDΒ 3,129
7.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$5.54DZDΒ 735
-25.99%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$94.7DZDΒ 12.5K
229.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$3,612DZDΒ 478.7K
65.94%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$36.32DZDΒ 4,814
59.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$44.66DZDΒ 5,919
-27.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$76.5DZDΒ 10.1K
30.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$76.8DZDΒ 10.2K
41.35%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$193DZDΒ 25.6K
149.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$113DZDΒ 15.0K
235.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$275DZDΒ 36.5K
204.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$186DZDΒ 24.6K
289.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$1,144DZDΒ 151.7K
148.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$1,083DZDΒ 143.5K
12.95%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.42
147.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Bechar: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $193 in Bechar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $23.00 in Bechar. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $203, 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 β living expenses run 67% 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 $1,525 in Medellin and $915 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: $482 in Medellin versus $193 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 β a meal for two runs $23.00 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 $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $610 in Bechar β a 67% 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 $610 in Bechar versus $1,017 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 β similar infrastructure at $610 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 β expenses run 67% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.