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: $1,641 in Medellin versus $540 in Bechar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $883 in Bechar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,227 in Bechar.

Living in Medellin is roughly 204% more expensive than in Bechar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Bechar is 61% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$3.31 DZD 439
142.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$16.75 DZD 2,222
188.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$4.16 DZD 551
126.44%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$0.74 DZD 98.0
297.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$0.63 DZD 83.5
195.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.30 DZD 40.15
386.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.48 DZD 196
116.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$2.12 DZD 281
169.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$0.87 DZD 116
65.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$0.16 DZD 21.07
1400.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$1.15 DZD 153
47.83%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$1.34 DZD 178
115.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$8.30 DZD 1,100
21.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$4.02 DZD 533
148.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$15.09 DZD 2,001
-5.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.15 DZD 285
85.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.92 DZD 388
-45.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.11 DZD 147
93.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$1.01 DZD 134
127.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$0.64 DZD 85.5
212.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$0.47 DZD 62.0
221.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$0.71 DZD 93.9
69.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.28 DZD 37.31
357.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$2.79 DZD 370
37.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$6.94 DZD 921
101.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.27 DZD 169
34.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.03 DZD 269
34.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.16 DZD 21.58
681.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$6.21 DZD 823
1154.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$0.59 DZD 78.5
122.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.42 DZD 55.6
416.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$5.07 DZD 673
63.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$0.36 DZD 48.27
277.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$36.0K DZD 4.8M
-23.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$35.2K DZD 4.7M
3.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$39.79 DZD 5,277
324.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$8.98 DZD 1,191
51.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$12.95 DZD 1,717
118.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$21.24 DZD 2,817
115.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$4.60 DZD 610
44.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$101 DZD 13.4K
696.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$3,296 DZD 437.1K
178.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$32.84 DZD 4,356
166.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$35.60 DZD 4,720
66.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$72.8 DZD 9,649
90.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$76.4 DZD 10.1K
33.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$163 DZD 21.6K
558.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$110 DZD 14.6K
494.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$280 DZD 37.1K
587.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$211 DZD 28.0K
397.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$1,277 DZD 169.4K
222.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bechar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.3
106.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bechar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $163 in Bechar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $17.00 in Bechar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $182 per month, with Bechar 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 Bechar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bechar?
Bechar wins on cost – living expenses run 204% 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 $2,462 in Medellin and $810 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: $1,071 in Medellin versus $163 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 $17.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $540 in Bechar – a 204% 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 $540 in Bechar versus $1,641 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 $540 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 204% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities