😐A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $615 in Ouargla, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $982 in Ouargla, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $1,349 in Ouargla, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 67% more than Ouargla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Ouargla are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Ouargla54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$3.26DZD 435
84.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$23.55DZD 3,138
39.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$3.79DZD 505
95.78%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$0.78DZD 104
111.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$0.61DZD 81.0
75.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$0.21DZD 27.95
261.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$1.97DZD 263
-12.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$2.36DZD 314
35.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$1.02DZD 137
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$0.16DZD 21.40
718.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$1.62DZD 216
-17.28%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$1.86DZD 249
17.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$9.24DZD 1,232
-52.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$5.15DZD 686
10.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$16.68DZD 2,223
-48.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$3.08DZD 411
-24.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$2.97DZD 395
-62.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$1.78DZD 238
-14.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$0.78DZD 104
75.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$0.56DZD 74.0
105.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$0.46DZD 61.9
156.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$0.60DZD 80.3
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$0.30DZD 40.41
186.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$2.67DZD 356
-15.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$7.38DZD 984
57.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$1.34DZD 179
-10.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$2.08DZD 278
19.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$0.25DZD 33.34
216.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$17.21DZD 2,294
137.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$0.65DZD 86.2
126.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$0.37DZD 48.76
418.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$5.36DZD 714
44.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$0.36DZD 48.44
180.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$32.2KDZD 4.3M
-45.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-20.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$40.11DZD 5,345
102.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$9.44DZD 1,259
-0.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$17.17DZD 2,289
38.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$23.46DZD 3,127
10.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$5.43DZD 724
-24.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$93.9DZD 12.5K
234.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$3,552DZD 473.3K
69.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$36.35DZD 4,844
64.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$45.39DZD 6,049
-29.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$76.2DZD 10.1K
32.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$75.9DZD 10.1K
38.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$193DZD 25.7K
151.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$114DZD 15.2K
219.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$274DZD 36.5K
201.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$180DZD 24.0K
306.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$1,228DZD 163.7K
143.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$1,202DZD 160.1K
9.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
-
-
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ouargla: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $193 in Ouargla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Ouargla. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $208 in Ouargla – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ouargla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ouargla cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 67%, 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $922 in Ouargla. 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 Ouargla, 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 in Ouargla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $24.00 in Ouargla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Ouargla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,028 in Medellin and $615 in Ouargla. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ouargla?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouargla, where all-in costs run around $615, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Ouargla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ouargla more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ouargla – 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 Ouargla?
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 Ouargla. 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.