Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bechar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bechar

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Medellin 23% lower, Bechar 53% lower.

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

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