Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bejaia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bejaia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $580 in Bejaia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $892 in Bejaia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,204 in Bejaia, rent included.

Medellin costs about 73% more than Bejaia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Bejaia are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Bejaia 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.39 DZD 317

147.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$7.95 DZD 1,052

314.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.73 DZD 626

57.08%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$0.25 DZD 33.07

560.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.57 DZD 74.8

92.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.21 DZD 27.73

271.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.98 DZD 262

-13.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.21 DZD 160

162.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.03 DZD 136

6.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.15 DZD 19.37

740.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.62 DZD 214

-14.81%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.87 DZD 248

16.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$6.43 DZD 850

-30.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$5.32 DZD 704

8.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$16.67 DZD 2,204

-46.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.13 DZD 413

-25.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.97 DZD 260

-46.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.77 DZD 234

-14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.87 DZD 116

56.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.60 DZD 79.8

88.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.50 DZD 66.5

134.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.68 DZD 89.8

32.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.28 DZD 36.54

221.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.72 DZD 360

-18.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.74 DZD 891

79.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.34 DZD 178

-11.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.13 DZD 282

16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.14 DZD 18.66

507.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$23.37 DZD 3,090

78.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.66 DZD 87.1

115.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.36 DZD 47.72

441.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$3.98 DZD 526

98.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.34 DZD 44.48

191.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$36.4K DZD 4.8M

-51.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$33.4K DZD 4.4M

-19.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$39.97 DZD 5,285

107.68%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$9.30 DZD 1,229

4.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$17.87 DZD 2,362

31.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$21.55 DZD 2,850

17.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$6.08 DZD 805

214.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.49 DZD 594

-12.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$93.5 DZD 12.4K

237.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$2,370 DZD 313.4K

152.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$31.96 DZD 4,226

87.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$45.97 DZD 6,078

-30.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$64.5 DZD 8,531

57.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$77.9 DZD 10.3K

37.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$194 DZD 25.6K

144.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$117 DZD 15.4K

220.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$272 DZD 36.0K

212.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$187 DZD 24.7K

284.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$4,514 DZD 596.9K

-27.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$3,869 DZD 511.5K

-62.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$212 DZD 28.1K

193.96%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bejaia: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $194 in Bejaia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 194% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $8.00 in Bejaia. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $194 in Bejaia – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bejaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 73% more than Bejaia, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $871 in Bejaia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bejaia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 78% less in Bejaia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $93.5 in Bejaia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bejaia, where all-in costs run around $580, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Bejaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bejaia costs $580 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bejaia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.