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