Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hassi Messaoud Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hassi Messaoud

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $544 in Hassi Messaoud, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $873 in Hassi Messaoud, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,202 in Hassi Messaoud, rent included.

Medellin costs about 209% more than Hassi Messaoud, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Hassi Messaoud is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$3.31 DZD 442
142.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$16.87 DZD 2,253
183.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$4.08 DZD 544
142.40%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$0.75 DZD 100
317.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$0.62 DZD 83.3
208.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.33 DZD 43.99
357.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$1.41 DZD 189
121.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$2.19 DZD 293
162.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$0.88 DZD 118
63.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$0.16 DZD 20.95
1456.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.15 DZD 153
53.91%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$1.40 DZD 186
111.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$8.28 DZD 1,106
21.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$4.14 DZD 553
144.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$14.58 DZD 1,948
-1.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.14 DZD 286
93.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.84 DZD 379
-43.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.11 DZD 149
102.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$0.95 DZD 127
136.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.64 DZD 85.0
218.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.47 DZD 62.3
227.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.70 DZD 93.9
67.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.30 DZD 40.59
336.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$2.81 DZD 375
38.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$7.00 DZD 935
100.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.31 DZD 174
32.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.92 DZD 256
49.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.16 DZD 21.31
662.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$6.46 DZD 863
1145.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$0.60 DZD 80.3
118.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.37 DZD 49.82
491.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$5.38 DZD 719
61.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$0.34 DZD 45.36
302.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$37.0K DZD 4.9M
-24.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$36.0K DZD 4.8M
-0.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$38.34 DZD 5,121
362.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$9.30 DZD 1,242
49.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$12.35 DZD 1,650
140.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$21.21 DZD 2,834
111.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$2.55 DZD 340
571.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$4.69 DZD 626
41.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$103 DZD 13.7K
692.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$3,396 DZD 453.7K
170.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$33.17 DZD 4,431
169.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$35.62 DZD 4,759
65.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$69.9 DZD 9,333
97.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$76.4 DZD 10.2K
33.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$160 DZD 21.4K
562.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$108 DZD 14.4K
513.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$280 DZD 37.4K
575.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$207 DZD 27.6K
396.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$1,280 DZD 171.0K
226.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hassi Messaoud
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$411 DZD 54.9K
64.83%
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 Hassi Messaoud: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $160 in Hassi Messaoud. 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 65% 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 $17.00 in Hassi Messaoud. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $180 – making Hassi Messaoud 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 Hassi Messaoud: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Hassi Messaoud compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $544 in Hassi Messaoud – roughly 209% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Hassi Messaoud?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $816 in Hassi Messaoud. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Hassi Messaoud?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hassi Messaoud, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Hassi Messaoud?
Public transport costs about 1146% less in Hassi Messaoud. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Hassi Messaoud?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $103 in Hassi Messaoud. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hassi Messaoud, where all-in costs run around $544, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Hassi Messaoud it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Hassi Messaoud?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $544 in Hassi Messaoud to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Hassi Messaoud safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Hassi Messaoud?
If budget matters most, go with Hassi Messaoud. 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.

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