😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $539 in El Bayadh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $877 in El Bayadh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,215 in El Bayadh.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 212% more expensive than in El Bayadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, El Bayadh is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$2.88DZD 384
178.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$18.90DZD 2,521
153.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$3.45DZD 460
186.67%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$0.82DZD 109
281.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$0.62DZD 83.4
208.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.31DZD 40.90
387.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$1.40DZD 187
122.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$2.00DZD 266
187.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.00DZD 134
44.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$0.14DZD 18.45
1678.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$1.18DZD 158
50.00%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$1.40DZD 187
111.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$8.29DZD 1,106
21.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$4.17DZD 556
142.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$14.86DZD 1,982
-3.77%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$2.19DZD 292
89.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.93DZD 390
-45.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$1.15DZD 153
95.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$0.99DZD 132
127.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$0.64DZD 84.9
218.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$0.51DZD 68.0
201.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$0.81DZD 108
44.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.26DZD 34.96
403.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$2.83DZD 378
37.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$7.04DZD 939
99.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.30DZD 173
33.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$1.85DZD 247
55.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$0.15DZD 20.06
713.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$6.02DZD 803
1236.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$0.60DZD 79.7
118.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$0.38DZD 51.1
476.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$4.52DZD 603
92.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$0.34DZD 45.16
302.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$37.1KDZD 4.9M
-24.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$34.9KDZD 4.7M
2.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$38.05DZD 5,074
365.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$9.95DZD 1,327
39.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$10.96DZD 1,461
171.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$21.48DZD 2,864
108.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$4.82DZD 642
37.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$89.6DZD 12.0K
807.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$3,789DZD 505.4K
142.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$30.61DZD 4,082
192.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$35.19DZD 4,693
67.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$67.4DZD 8,989
105.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$82.0DZD 10.9K
24.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$178DZD 23.7K
498.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$101DZD 13.4K
557.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$283DZD 37.8K
567.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$211DZD 28.2K
386.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$1,330DZD 177.4K
214.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
El Bayadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 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: September 14, 2026
Last update for El Bayadh: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $178 in El Bayadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $19.00 in El Bayadh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $184 per month, with El Bayadh cheaper across the board.
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 212% 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 $2,521 in Medellin and $808 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: $1,062 in Medellin versus $178 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 $19.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $539 in El Bayadh – a 212% 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 $539 in El Bayadh versus $1,681 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 $539 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 212% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.