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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $572 in Jijel, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $914 in Jijel, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,256 in Jijel, rent included.

Medellin costs about 75% more than Jijel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Jijel are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Jijel 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$2.54 DZD 336
132.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$23.43 DZD 3,097
40.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$4.65 DZD 615
59.78%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$0.96 DZD 127
71.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.61 DZD 81.1
80.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.23 DZD 30.43
239.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$1.89 DZD 251
-8.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$2.43 DZD 321
30.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$0.87 DZD 115
26.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.13 DZD 17.57
869.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.43 DZD 189
-3.50%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.82 DZD 240
19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$8.81 DZD 1,165
-49.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$4.58 DZD 605
26.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$12.57 DZD 1,662
-28.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$3.22 DZD 426
-27.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$2.90 DZD 384
-63.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$1.48 DZD 195
2.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$0.74 DZD 98.5
83.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.59 DZD 77.6
91.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.39 DZD 51.1
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.40 DZD 52.3
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.28 DZD 36.86
221.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$2.38 DZD 315
-6.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$6.89 DZD 912
75.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.29 DZD 170
-7.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$2.14 DZD 283
15.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.22 DZD 28.93
286.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$17.48 DZD 2,311
138.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$0.67 DZD 88.0
111.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.22 DZD 29.15
786.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$5.67 DZD 749
39.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$0.36 DZD 47.64
175.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$36.2K DZD 4.8M
-51.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$33.4K DZD 4.4M
-19.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$40.54 DZD 5,361
104.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$6.86 DZD 908
41.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$17.86 DZD 2,361
31.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$17.64 DZD 2,333
43.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$6.06 DZD 802
-34.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$87.6 DZD 11.6K
260.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$1,394 DZD 184.3K
328.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$37.40 DZD 4,945
60.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$33.21 DZD 4,391
-4.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$63.2 DZD 8,360
60.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$65.9 DZD 8,707
63.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$199 DZD 26.4K
138.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$127 DZD 16.8K
194.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$273 DZD 36.2K
210.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$181 DZD 23.9K
298.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$791 DZD 104.6K
312.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$414 DZD 54.8K
247.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jijel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$252 DZD 33.4K
147.45%
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 Jijel: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $199 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 147% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Jijel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $185 – 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 75%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $859 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 4% 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $23.00 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 $572, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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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