😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $618 in Boumerdes, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $942 in Boumerdes, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,266 in Boumerdes, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 67% more than Boumerdes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Boumerdes are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Boumerdes54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$3.17DZD 421
94.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$23.43DZD 3,105
39.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$3.63DZD 482
102.20%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$0.52DZD 69.5
230.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.57DZD 75.8
84.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.21DZD 27.76
266.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.94DZD 257
-12.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.34DZD 310
35.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.95DZD 126
10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.13DZD 17.34
900.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.74DZD 231
-19.54%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.41DZD 187
53.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$9.17DZD 1,215
-52.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$5.31DZD 703
10.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$16.61DZD 2,201
-47.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$3.22DZD 427
-29.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.94DZD 390
-62.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.73DZD 229
-11.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.50DZD 66.2
170.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.49DZD 65.6
130.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.46DZD 61.4
145.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.72DZD 95.2
18.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.29DZD 38.54
213.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.76DZD 365
-15.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$6.86DZD 909
80.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.31DZD 173
-8.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.17DZD 288
14.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.31DZD 41.63
170.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$17.31DZD 2,294
134.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.67DZD 88.2
111.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.34DZD 44.99
464.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$5.71DZD 757
34.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.33DZD 44.36
200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$14.2KDZD 1.9M
26.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-21.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$40.58DZD 5,377
99.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$9.21DZD 1,221
8.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$11.80DZD 1,564
104.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$23.39DZD 3,100
7.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$2.04DZD 271
95.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$95.8DZD 12.7K
218.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$3,647DZD 483.3K
66.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$11.84DZD 1,568
390.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$45.46DZD 6,025
-29.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$76.2DZD 10.1K
32.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$76.4DZD 10.1K
41.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$197DZD 26.0K
142.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$142DZD 18.8K
165.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$239DZD 31.7K
253.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$168DZD 22.3K
334.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,124DZD 149.0K
186.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,125DZD 149.0K
22.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Boumerdes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Boumerdes: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $197 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Boumerdes. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $204 in Boumerdes – 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 Boumerdes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boumerdes cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $927 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Boumerdes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $23.00 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 $618, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.