😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $607 in El Bayadh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $967 in El Bayadh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,327 in El Bayadh.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 65% more expensive than in El Bayadh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, El Bayadh54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$3.16DZD 418
87.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$23.28DZD 3,078
41.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$3.84DZD 508
93.49%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$0.72DZD 95.2
129.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.57DZD 75.7
92.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.23DZD 30.45
239.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.94DZD 256
-11.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.33DZD 308
36.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$0.99DZD 131
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.16DZD 20.67
687.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.58DZD 208
-12.66%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.79DZD 236
21.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$8.76DZD 1,159
-48.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$5.14DZD 680
12.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$16.63DZD 2,198
-46.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$3.06DZD 404
-24.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$2.86DZD 378
-62.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.70DZD 225
-10.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$0.74DZD 97.8
83.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.55DZD 72.8
105.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.49DZD 65.1
138.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.66DZD 87.4
36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.30DZD 39.78
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$2.70DZD 356
-17.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$6.80DZD 899
78.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.29DZD 171
-7.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.14DZD 284
15.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.23DZD 30.36
269.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$17.46DZD 2,309
138.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.65DZD 86.4
118.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.33DZD 44.11
490.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$5.27DZD 697
49.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$0.34DZD 44.86
191.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$32.1KDZD 4.2M
-45.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-19.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$40.70DZD 5,381
103.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$9.56DZD 1,264
1.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$17.24DZD 2,279
36.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$23.00DZD 3,042
9.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$5.44DZD 719
-27.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$92.7DZD 12.3K
240.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$3,663DZD 484.4K
63.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$37.31DZD 4,934
60.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$45.81DZD 6,057
-30.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$76.6DZD 10.1K
32.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$77.2DZD 10.2K
39.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$194DZD 25.6K
145.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$113DZD 15.0K
230.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$271DZD 35.8K
213.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$184DZD 24.3K
291.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,263DZD 167.0K
158.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,154DZD 152.6K
24.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 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 27, 2026
Last update for El Bayadh: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $194 in El Bayadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $23.00 in El Bayadh. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $203, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 El Bayadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or El Bayadh?
El Bayadh wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Bayadh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in El Bayadh?
You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $910 in El Bayadh to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to El Bayadh?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $194 in El Bayadh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in El Bayadh?
Dining out is cheaper in El Bayadh – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to El Bayadh?
All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $607 in El Bayadh – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in El Bayadh?
At $607 in El Bayadh versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Bayadh but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes El Bayadh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or El Bayadh?
Both work as nomad bases, but El Bayadh delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $607 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes El Bayadh hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to El Bayadh?
Safety-wise, Medellin and El Bayadh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find El Bayadh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.