😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $601 in El Bayadh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $960 in El Bayadh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,320 in El Bayadh.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 72% more expensive than El Bayadh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, El Bayadh55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$3.17DZD 420
86.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$23.26DZD 3,083
40.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$3.88DZD 514
85.57%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$0.74DZD 98.0
129.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.62DZD 81.5
77.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.23DZD 30.57
213.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.90DZD 252
-12.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.42DZD 321
28.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.00DZD 132
6.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.15DZD 20.28
733.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.55DZD 206
-10.32%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.86DZD 246
21.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$9.13DZD 1,210
-52.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$5.25DZD 696
11.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$16.45DZD 2,180
-46.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$3.23DZD 427
-30.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$2.87DZD 381
-62.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.76DZD 233
-13.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$0.79DZD 105
73.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.55DZD 73.4
105.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.50DZD 66.8
124.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.65DZD 86.1
30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.30DZD 39.78
203.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.70DZD 358
-13.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$7.15DZD 947
55.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.29DZD 170
-7.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.17DZD 288
9.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.23DZD 30.31
243.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$17.70DZD 2,346
132.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.67DZD 88.7
114.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.36DZD 47.99
430.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$5.36DZD 711
49.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.36DZD 48.24
161.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$32.8KDZD 4.3M
-45.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$33.6KDZD 4.5M
-20.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$40.23DZD 5,331
108.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$9.62DZD 1,275
-0.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$17.20DZD 2,279
40.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$23.56DZD 3,121
9.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$5.42DZD 718
-27.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$92.6DZD 12.3K
230.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$3,644DZD 482.9K
62.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$37.37DZD 4,952
54.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$45.09DZD 5,975
-29.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$76.1DZD 10.1K
31.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$75.6DZD 10.0K
41.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$195DZD 25.9K
149.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$117DZD 15.5K
214.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$269DZD 35.7K
206.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$182DZD 24.2K
292.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 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: April 27, 2026
Last update for El Bayadh: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $195 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 $190 vs $206, 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 72% 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 vs El Bayadh?
You'd need roughly $1,550 in Medellin and $902 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 vs El Bayadh?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $195 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 vs 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 $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $601 in El Bayadh – a 72% 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 El Bayadh?
At $601 in El Bayadh versus $1,034 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 $601 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 72% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.