😐A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $585 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $936 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,288 in Mostaganem, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 76% more than Mostaganem, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Mostaganem are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Mostaganem56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$3.13DZD 414
89.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$23.87DZD 3,159
38.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$3.89DZD 515
86.38%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$0.99DZD 131
72.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$0.57DZD 75.7
91.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$0.23DZD 30.51
234.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$1.98DZD 262
-11.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$2.40DZD 318
32.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$0.83DZD 109
27.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$0.15DZD 19.29
766.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$1.31DZD 173
5.34%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$1.81DZD 240
22.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$5.93DZD 784
-23.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$4.10DZD 543
41.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$16.50DZD 2,183
-45.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$3.19DZD 422
-28.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$2.86DZD 379
-62.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$1.54DZD 204
-1.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$0.57DZD 76.0
138.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$0.60DZD 78.9
93.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$0.47DZD 62.1
148.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$0.73DZD 96.3
13.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$0.28DZD 36.73
203.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$2.54DZD 337
-7.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$7.14DZD 945
55.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$1.35DZD 179
-14.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$2.15DZD 285
14.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$0.16DZD 20.73
393.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$17.50DZD 2,316
139.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$0.27DZD 36.03
433.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$0.36DZD 47.80
427.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$5.52DZD 730
39.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$0.30DZD 39.23
243.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$36.4KDZD 4.8M
-51.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
-19.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$40.24DZD 5,325
102.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$7.77DZD 1,028
21.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$17.10DZD 2,263
39.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$23.47DZD 3,105
10.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$6.07DZD 803
-33.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$95.2DZD 12.6K
228.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$3,629DZD 480.2K
67.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$36.64DZD 4,849
60.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$44.92DZD 5,945
-26.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$74.8DZD 9,893
34.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$75.7DZD 10.0K
40.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$195DZD 25.7K
151.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$114DZD 15.1K
225.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$273DZD 36.1K
207.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$186DZD 24.6K
284.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
$940DZD 124.4K
214.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mostaganem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
$239DZD 31.6K
123.05%
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 20, 2026
Last update for Mostaganem: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $195 in Mostaganem. 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 123% 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 in Medellin versus $24 in Mostaganem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $186 – making Mostaganem 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 Mostaganem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mostaganem cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 76%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $877 in Mostaganem. 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 Mostaganem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Mostaganem?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $24.00 in Mostaganem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Mostaganem?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $585 in Mostaganem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Mostaganem?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostaganem, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Mostaganem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mostaganem more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mostaganem – 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 Mostaganem?
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 Mostaganem. 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.