Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boumerdes Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boumerdes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $548 in Boumerdes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $890 in Boumerdes, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,231 in Boumerdes, rent included.

Medellin costs about 213% more than Boumerdes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Boumerdes is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$3.39 DZD 449
136.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$24.01 DZD 3,183
101.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$3.48 DZD 461
180.75%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$0.54 DZD 71.5
438.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$0.54 DZD 71.2
259.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$0.28 DZD 37.22
442.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$2.29 DZD 304
34.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$2.34 DZD 310
145.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$0.92 DZD 122
47.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$0.14 DZD 18.19
1607.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$1.14 DZD 150
49.12%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$1.39 DZD 184
106.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$8.11 DZD 1,075
22.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$4.21 DZD 558
156.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$15.15 DZD 2,008
-2.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.17 DZD 288
88.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$2.92 DZD 387
-46.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$1.12 DZD 148
90.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$0.51 DZD 67.5
333.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$0.50 DZD 66.3
310.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$0.48 DZD 63.1
212.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$0.79 DZD 105
50.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$0.28 DZD 37.42
314.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$2.73 DZD 362
42.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$6.88 DZD 912
109.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$1.29 DZD 171
22.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$1.94 DZD 258
45.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$0.29 DZD 38.40
303.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$7.24 DZD 960
973.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$0.57 DZD 75.2
124.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$0.48 DZD 63.8
335.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$5.69 DZD 754
51.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$0.35 DZD 45.79
271.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$14.2K DZD 1.9M
95.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$35.5K DZD 4.7M
0.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$45.99 DZD 6,097
282.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$10.86 DZD 1,439
23.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$11.96 DZD 1,585
149.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$18.24 DZD 2,419
145.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$1.96 DZD 260
216.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$104 DZD 13.8K
662.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$6,540 DZD 867.0K
37.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$11.96 DZD 1,586
615.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$35.49 DZD 4,704
64.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$72.7 DZD 9,633
87.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$84.0 DZD 11.1K
22.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$160 DZD 21.2K
561.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$108 DZD 14.3K
529.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$285 DZD 37.8K
605.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$210 DZD 27.8K
456.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$1,294 DZD 171.5K
217.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$745 DZD 98.8K
128.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
-
-
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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Boumerdes: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $160 in Boumerdes. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Boumerdes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $180 – making Boumerdes 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 Boumerdes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boumerdes cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 213%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $822 in Boumerdes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Boumerdes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Boumerdes?
Groceries cost about 69% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Boumerdes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $24.00 in Boumerdes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Boumerdes?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Boumerdes, where all-in costs run around $548, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Boumerdes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Boumerdes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Boumerdes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Boumerdes?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Boumerdes. 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.

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