Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ouargla Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ouargla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $606 in Ouargla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $982 in Ouargla, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,359 in Ouargla, rent included.

Medellin costs about 71% more than Ouargla, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Ouargla are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ouargla 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$3.21 DZD 426
84.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$24.04 DZD 3,185
36.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$3.80 DZD 504
89.47%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$0.76 DZD 101
123.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.62 DZD 81.6
77.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.21 DZD 27.73
242.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$2.01 DZD 266
-16.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.32 DZD 308
33.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.03 DZD 136
2.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.17 DZD 22.72
635.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.61 DZD 214
-13.66%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.81 DZD 240
24.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$8.79 DZD 1,165
-50.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$5.36 DZD 711
8.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$16.57 DZD 2,195
-46.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$3.17 DZD 420
-29.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$2.94 DZD 389
-63.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.76 DZD 233
-13.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.78 DZD 104
75.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.55 DZD 73.2
105.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.47 DZD 61.6
138.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.65 DZD 86.4
30.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.28 DZD 36.69
225.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$2.70 DZD 358
-13.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$7.48 DZD 991
48.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.30 DZD 172
-8.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$2.08 DZD 275
13.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.23 DZD 30.24
243.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$17.24 DZD 2,284
138.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.66 DZD 87.8
118.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.33 DZD 44.29
478.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$5.41 DZD 717
48.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.37 DZD 48.45
154.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$31.8K DZD 4.2M
-43.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$33.7K DZD 4.5M
-20.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$41.03 DZD 5,436
104.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$9.60 DZD 1,272
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$16.71 DZD 2,214
44.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$23.19 DZD 3,072
11.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$5.54 DZD 734
-29.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$93.0 DZD 12.3K
229.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$3,620 DZD 479.7K
63.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$37.03 DZD 4,906
56.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$46.01 DZD 6,097
-30.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$74.7 DZD 9,898
33.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$75.6 DZD 10.0K
41.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$197 DZD 26.1K
147.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$118 DZD 15.6K
213.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$271 DZD 35.9K
204.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$180 DZD 23.9K
297.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ouargla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
-
-
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 27, 2026

Last update for Ouargla: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $197 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 $207 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 71%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $908 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 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 vs Ouargla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $606 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 Medellin or Ouargla?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ouargla, where all-in costs run around $606, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.

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