Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Setif Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Setif

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $452 in Setif, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $762 in Setif, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,071 in Setif, rent included.

Medellin costs about 128% more than Setif, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Setif are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Setif 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$2.28 DZD 303
170.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$16.12 DZD 2,136
102.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$3.91 DZD 519
87.72%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$0.67 DZD 89.2
156.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.60 DZD 79.9
75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.21 DZD 27.74
266.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.48 DZD 196
14.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.12 DZD 281
49.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.70 DZD 93.3
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.14 DZD 18.16
828.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.07 DZD 142
30.84%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.85 DZD 246
16.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.69 DZD 887
-34.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$5.09 DZD 674
15.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$14.07 DZD 1,864
-38.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.82 DZD 374
-19.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.97 DZD 393
-62.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.50 DZD 198
2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.76 DZD 101
77.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.52 DZD 69.0
117.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.50 DZD 66.5
126.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.45 DZD 59.9
88.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.28 DZD 36.66
225.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.81 DZD 373
-16.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$5.33 DZD 707
132.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.34 DZD 178
-10.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.11 DZD 280
18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Setif
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.16 DZD 20.85
425.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$5.89 DZD 781
588.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.71 DZD 93.8
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.34 DZD 44.94
464.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$5.11 DZD 677
49.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.37 DZD 48.47
167.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$29.0K DZD 3.8M
-37.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$20.9K DZD 2.8M
27.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$38.53 DZD 5,106
109.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$9.25 DZD 1,226
7.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$13.15 DZD 1,743
83.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$18.16 DZD 2,406
38.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$5.69 DZD 754
236.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.59 DZD 741
-28.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$93.8 DZD 12.4K
225.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$3,669 DZD 486.2K
65.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$24.41 DZD 3,235
138.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$26.82 DZD 3,554
20.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$44.78 DZD 5,935
124.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$56.4 DZD 7,473
91.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Setif
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$74.8 DZD 9,911
537.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$54.9 DZD 7,281
584.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$182 DZD 24.1K
364.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$153 DZD 20.2K
378.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$922 DZD 122.2K
248.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$386 DZD 51.2K
255.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Setif
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$299 DZD 39.7K
106.07%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Setif: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $74.8 in Setif. 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 106% 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 $16.00 in Setif. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $179 – making Setif 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 Setif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Setif cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 128%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $679 in Setif. 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 Setif, 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 Setif?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $16.00 in Setif. 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 Setif?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $452 in Setif. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Setif?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Setif, where all-in costs run around $452, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Setif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Setif more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Setif – 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 Setif?
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 Setif. 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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