Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jijel Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jijel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $549 in Jijel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $872 in Jijel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,194 in Jijel, rent included.

Medellin costs about 206% more than Jijel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.3K
$2.54 DZD 339
215.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 151.0K
$28.86 DZD 3,849
65.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.2K
$4.48 DZD 598
120.76%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,873
$0.92 DZD 123
240.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,019
$0.66 DZD 88.1
189.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,763
$0.28 DZD 37.28
439.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,853
$2.26 DZD 302
38.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$2.25 DZD 299
155.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,558
$0.87 DZD 116
65.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,843
$0.15 DZD 19.65
1560.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,595
$1.20 DZD 160
47.50%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,336
$1.39 DZD 185
112.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.8K
$8.00 DZD 1,067
25.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.9K
$4.02 DZD 536
151.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.1K
$12.56 DZD 1,676
13.85%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.0K
$2.14 DZD 286
93.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,073
$2.91 DZD 388
-44.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,083
$1.11 DZD 149
102.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,104
$0.74 DZD 98.6
204.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,444
$0.57 DZD 76.0
257.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,842
$0.38 DZD 51.2
305.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,691
$0.40 DZD 53.3
192.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,121
$0.26 DZD 34.65
403.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$2.40 DZD 320
62.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.2K
$6.91 DZD 921
102.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,498
$1.25 DZD 167
39.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,053
$1.98 DZD 265
44.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,834
$0.24 DZD 32.09
408.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 253.9K
$6.40 DZD 854
1157.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,129
$0.60 DZD 79.6
118.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,899
$0.24 DZD 32.15
812.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.5K
$5.87 DZD 783
48.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,306
$0.36 DZD 48.61
280.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 87.8M
$36.6K DZD 4.9M
-23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 112.8M
$35.3K DZD 4.7M
1.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 559.3K
$39.88 DZD 5,319
344.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.8K
$7.13 DZD 950
94.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 93.8K
$12.73 DZD 1,698
133.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 141.6K
$17.09 DZD 2,279
162.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.0K
$4.64 DZD 618
43.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$87.8 DZD 11.7K
825.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.0M
$1,394 DZD 185.9K
559.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 282.3K
$33.58 DZD 4,479
166.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 186.0K
$33.21 DZD 4,429
77.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 435.9K
$62.5 DZD 8,341
120.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 322.1K
$66.4 DZD 8,857
53.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$202 DZD 27.0K
425.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$127 DZD 16.9K
423.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$286 DZD 38.1K
561.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$209 DZD 27.9K
391.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.2M
$783 DZD 104.4K
434.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$417 DZD 55.6K
301.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$263 DZD 35.0K
157.89%
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 Jijel: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $202 in Jijel. 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 158% 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 $29.00 in Jijel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $170 – making Jijel 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 Jijel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jijel cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 206%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $824 in Jijel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jijel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Jijel?
Groceries cost about 79% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Jijel?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $29.00 in Jijel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Jijel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jijel, where all-in costs run around $549, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Jijel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Jijel more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jijel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Jijel?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jijel. 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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