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