😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $630 in Constantine, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,032 in Constantine, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,434 in Constantine, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 172% more than Constantine, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Constantine is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$3.14DZD 416
155.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$22.89DZD 3,034
110.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$4.01DZD 531
143.64%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$0.66DZD 86.9
340.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$0.61DZD 80.2
218.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$0.22DZD 29.07
590.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$5.95DZD 789
-48.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$1.88DZD 249
205.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$1.02DZD 136
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$0.18DZD 24.51
1227.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.81DZD 240
-6.08%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$1.89DZD 250
51.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$13.23DZD 1,753
-24.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$4.20DZD 557
156.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$15.86DZD 2,101
-7.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$3.31DZD 439
23.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$3.29DZD 436
-52.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$1.46DZD 193
45.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$0.93DZD 123
137.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$0.66DZD 87.1
210.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$0.71DZD 93.5
111.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$0.75DZD 99.7
58.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$0.37DZD 48.41
213.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.43DZD 455
13.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$3.57DZD 473
304.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$1.14DZD 151
38.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$1.13DZD 150
150.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
$0.34DZD 44.94
244.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
$6.88DZD 911
1029.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.13DZD 149
13.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$0.21DZD 27.19
895.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$4.35DZD 577
98.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$0.35DZD 46.58
271.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$37.1KDZD 4.9M
-25.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$40.2KDZD 5.3M
-11.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$39.12DZD 5,184
350.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$9.16DZD 1,214
45.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$18.09DZD 2,397
65.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$37.95DZD 5,028
17.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$4.72DZD 625
31.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$83.9DZD 11.1K
845.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$2,575DZD 341.2K
250.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$57.2DZD 7,581
49.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$40.09DZD 5,313
45.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$86.0DZD 11.4K
58.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$91.4DZD 12.1K
12.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$151DZD 20.0K
600.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$94.8DZD 12.6K
616.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$286DZD 37.9K
603.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$214DZD 28.3K
446.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$933DZD 123.7K
340.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$630DZD 83.5K
169.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Constantine
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$396DZD 52.5K
68.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.5
143.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Constantine: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $151 in Constantine. 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 68% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Constantine. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $208 – making Constantine 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 Constantine: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Constantine?
Medellin costs about 172% more than Constantine, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Constantine?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $946 in Constantine. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Constantine?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Constantine, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Constantine?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $630 in Constantine. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Constantine?
Public transport costs about 1030% less in Constantine. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Constantine?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Constantine, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Constantine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Constantine?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Constantine costs $630 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Constantine?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or to Constantine?
If budget matters most, go with Constantine. 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.