Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Boumerdes

For one person, living is cheaper in Boumerdes: $552 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Boumerdes
🇩🇿 Algeria
$552
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Boumerdes

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Boumerdes actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $552 in Boumerdes, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Boumerdes $552

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $828 in Boumerdes, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Boumerdes $828

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $1,104 in Boumerdes, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Boumerdes $1,104

Medellin costs about 194% more than Boumerdes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Boumerdes is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$2.67 DZD 357
210.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$18.93 DZD 2,535
147.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$3.66 DZD 491
152.46%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$0.52 DZD 69.6
486.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$0.41 DZD 54.3
339.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$0.20 DZD 26.17
590.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$2.20 DZD 294
47.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$2.20 DZD 295
152.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$0.90 DZD 120
66.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$0.13 DZD 17.65
1723.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$1.10 DZD 148
54.55%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$1.25 DZD 168
136.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$8.09 DZD 1,083
26.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$3.87 DZD 518
151.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$14.49 DZD 1,940
-4.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$2.04 DZD 273
102.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$2.84 DZD 380
-46.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$1.08 DZD 144
105.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$0.52 DZD 69.9
336.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$0.49 DZD 65.0
306.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$0.45 DZD 60.1
271.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$0.82 DZD 110
43.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$0.25 DZD 33.18
396.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$2.54 DZD 340
52.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$6.66 DZD 891
106.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.28 DZD 172
29.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$1.89 DZD 253
26.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$0.28 DZD 37.34
342.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$0.55 DZD 73.0
132.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$0.43 DZD 57.5
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$5.66 DZD 758
47.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$0.35 DZD 47.32
285.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$13.8K DZD 1.8M
152.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$35.1K DZD 4.7M
-1.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$44.61 DZD 5,972
273.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$9.54 DZD 1,277
42.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$11.39 DZD 1,525
155.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$22.12 DZD 2,961
103.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$1.97 DZD 263
253.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$558 DZD 74.7K
41.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$6,437 DZD 861.8K
40.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$11.43 DZD 1,530
668.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$34.26 DZD 4,587
69.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$69.4 DZD 9,289
100.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$79.6 DZD 10.7K
24.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$190 DZD 25.4K
441.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$140 DZD 18.7K
343.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$233 DZD 31.2K
706.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$162 DZD 21.6K
523.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$709 DZD 94.9K
462.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$729 DZD 97.6K
133.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 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: October 19, 2026

Last update for Boumerdes: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Boumerdes
$140 77.4% $480
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Boumerdes
$173 41.9% $125
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Boumerdes
$66 68.7% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Boumerdes
$88 49.3% $85
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Boumerdes
$56 67% $114
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Boumerdes
$3.8 * 96% $91
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Boumerdes
$26 55.9% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $190 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Boumerdes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $173 – making Boumerdes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇩🇿 Boumerdes
🕒 Local time
08:55 8:55 AM
14:55 2:55 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
41,685
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Boumerdes 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Boumerdes

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 194%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $828 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Boumerdes?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,625 in Medellin and $552 in Boumerdes. That's a gap of about 194%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $790 per month in Medellin and $558 in Boumerdes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 $552, than in Medellin at $1,625. 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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