Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bordj Bou Arreridj Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bordj Bou Arreridj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $537 in Bordj Bou Arreridj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $821 in Bordj Bou Arreridj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,105 in Bordj Bou Arreridj, rent included.

Medellin costs about 89% more than Bordj Bou Arreridj, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Bordj Bou Arreridj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bordj Bou Arreridj 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.39 DZD 317

148.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$7.90 DZD 1,047

321.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.68 DZD 488

96.47%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.41 DZD 54.5

297.56%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.57 DZD 76.1

91.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.23 DZD 30.50

217.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.75 DZD 99.0

132.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.42 DZD 321

33.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.04 DZD 138

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.08 DZD 11.11

1512.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.74 DZD 98.7

78.38%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.68 DZD 223

35.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.96 DZD 922

-37.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.24 DZD 695

12.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$16.21 DZD 2,149

-46.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.11 DZD 412

-27.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.30 DZD 305

-53.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.70 DZD 225

-10.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.85 DZD 113

67.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.63 DZD 83.9

85.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.50 DZD 66.5

134.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.72 DZD 94.9

23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.28 DZD 36.69

221.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.78 DZD 369

-19.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$7.08 DZD 939

55.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.29 DZD 171

-11.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.10 DZD 278

13.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.25 DZD 33.24

236.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$17.67 DZD 2,341

137.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.65 DZD 85.8

116.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.37 DZD 48.62

413.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.58 DZD 740

38.89%

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

$36.3K DZD 4.8M

-51.62%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$33.1K DZD 4.4M

-19.92%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$40.43 DZD 5,359

106.98%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$7.96 DZD 1,054

18.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$18.15 DZD 2,406

32.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$13.89 DZD 1,840

82.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.07 DZD 805

-32.45%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$62.5 DZD 8,288

398.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,570 DZD 473.2K

67.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$35.18 DZD 4,662

64.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$39.28 DZD 5,205

-17.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$34.65 DZD 4,592

187.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$54.7 DZD 7,247

98.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$196 DZD 26.0K

145.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$113 DZD 15.0K

234.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$275 DZD 36.4K

205.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$182 DZD 24.1K

298.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,131 DZD 149.9K

151.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,122 DZD 148.7K

9.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$346 DZD 45.9K

56.19%

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 Bordj Bou Arreridj: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $196 in Bordj Bou Arreridj. 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 56% 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 Bordj Bou Arreridj. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $191 in Bordj Bou Arreridj – 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 Bordj Bou Arreridj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 89% more than Bordj Bou Arreridj, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $806 in Bordj Bou Arreridj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $8.00 in Bordj Bou Arreridj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $537 in Bordj Bou Arreridj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bordj Bou Arreridj, where all-in costs run around $537, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Bordj Bou Arreridj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bordj Bou Arreridj costs $537 versus $1,017 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 Bordj Bou Arreridj. 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.