Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Biskra Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Biskra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $582 in Biskra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $935 in Biskra, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,288 in Biskra, rent included.

Medellin costs about 75% more than Biskra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Biskra are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Biskra 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.90 DZD 385

105.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$28.84 DZD 3,822

15.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.83 DZD 508

88.77%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.41 DZD 188

15.60%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.07 DZD 142

1.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.30 DZD 40.33

143.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.97 DZD 262

-11.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.39 DZD 317

35.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.44 DZD 191

-27.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.15 DZD 20.15

760.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.41 DZD 186

-6.38%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.39 DZD 184

63.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.58 DZD 872

-33.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.49 DZD 462

68.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$19.51 DZD 2,585

-55.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.64 DZD 483

-38.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$3.42 DZD 453

-68.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.83 DZD 242

-16.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.71 DZD 94.1

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.78 DZD 103

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.49 DZD 65.4

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.39 DZD 52.3

128.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.32 DZD 43.05

181.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.85 DZD 510

-41.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.25 DZD 828

76.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.36 DZD 180

-16.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.14 DZD 284

11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.22 DZD 29.00

281.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$17.71 DZD 2,347

136.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.15 DZD 152

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.34 DZD 44.67

458.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.41 DZD 717

43.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.34 DZD 44.93

197.06%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$31.8K DZD 4.2M

-44.70%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$33.3K DZD 4.4M

-20.42%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$41.12 DZD 5,451

103.50%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.57 DZD 1,401

-10.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$10.39 DZD 1,377

132.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$23.43 DZD 3,106

8.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.43 DZD 720

-24.49%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$92.6 DZD 12.3K

236.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,557 DZD 471.5K

68.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$36.50 DZD 4,838

59.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$21.53 DZD 2,853

51.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$71.1 DZD 9,421

40.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$29.08 DZD 3,855

273.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$142 DZD 18.8K

239.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$109 DZD 14.4K

249.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$159 DZD 21.0K

427.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$151 DZD 20.0K

379.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,111 DZD 147.2K

155.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,113 DZD 147.5K

9.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$233 DZD 30.9K

132.23%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Biskra: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $142 in Biskra. 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 132% 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 $29.00 in Biskra. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $205 in Biskra – 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 Biskra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $873 in Biskra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $582 in Biskra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 137% less in Biskra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Biskra, where all-in costs run around $582, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Biskra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Biskra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Biskra. 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.