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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $557 in Biskra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $898 in Biskra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,239 in Biskra, rent included.

Medellin costs about 202% more than Biskra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Biskra is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$2.97 DZD 396

170.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$29.35 DZD 3,920

63.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$4.12 DZD 550

140.05%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.43 DZD 191

118.88%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.11 DZD 149

72.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.33 DZD 44.65

357.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.42 DZD 190

119.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$2.18 DZD 291

163.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.45 DZD 193

-0.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.17 DZD 22.44

1364.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.34 DZD 179

32.09%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.46 DZD 194

102.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$6.38 DZD 852

57.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$3.58 DZD 478

182.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$19.60 DZD 2,618

-27.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$3.69 DZD 493

12.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$3.36 DZD 449

-52.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$1.89 DZD 253

19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$0.77 DZD 102

192.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.71 DZD 94.3

187.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.48 DZD 64.1

220.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.40 DZD 53.0

192.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.35 DZD 47.32

274.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$3.87 DZD 517

0.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$7.65 DZD 1,021

83.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$1.30 DZD 173

33.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.91 DZD 255

50.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.22 DZD 29.30

454.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$7.30 DZD 975

1002.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$1.18 DZD 157

11.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.37 DZD 49.58

491.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$4.56 DZD 609

91.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.33 DZD 43.58

315.15%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$36.7K DZD 4.9M

-24.24%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$35.5K DZD 4.7M

0.76%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$38.05 DZD 5,083

365.97%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$8.94 DZD 1,195

55.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$14.56 DZD 1,945

104.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$21.33 DZD 2,850

110.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$4.72 DZD 630

40.89%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$103 DZD 13.8K

687.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$3,371 DZD 450.4K

172.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$32.79 DZD 4,380

172.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$21.31 DZD 2,847

176.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$69.1 DZD 9,231

100.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$29.13 DZD 3,892

250.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$145 DZD 19.3K

634.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$106 DZD 14.1K

525.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$161 DZD 21.5K

1075.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$148 DZD 19.8K

593.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$1,268 DZD 169.4K

229.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$284 DZD 37.9K

490.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$231 DZD 30.9K

192.85%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Biskra: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $145 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 193% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Biskra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $208 – making Biskra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 202%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $835 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $557 in Biskra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1002% 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 $557, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.