Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sidi Bel Abbes Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sidi Bel Abbes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $612 in Sidi Bel Abbes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $962 in Sidi Bel Abbes, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,312 in Sidi Bel Abbes, rent included.

Medellin costs about 65% more than Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Sidi Bel Abbes are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sidi Bel Abbes 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$3.20 DZD 425

87.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$21.51 DZD 2,853

52.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$3.98 DZD 528

78.14%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$0.40 DZD 53.2

327.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.60 DZD 80.0

83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.27 DZD 35.80

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.92 DZD 255

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.40 DZD 318

27.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$0.98 DZD 130

11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.09 DZD 12.14

1300.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.64 DZD 218

-15.85%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.81 DZD 240

20.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$8.85 DZD 1,174

-50.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.40 DZD 716

4.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$16.29 DZD 2,160

-45.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.08 DZD 409

-24.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.91 DZD 386

-63.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.76 DZD 233

-14.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.74 DZD 97.6

86.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.55 DZD 73.3

109.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.50 DZD 66.4

132.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.61 DZD 81.1

45.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.37 DZD 49.08

127.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$2.80 DZD 371

-18.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$9.65 DZD 1,280

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.33 DZD 177

-9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.06 DZD 273

19.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.18 DZD 23.78

377.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$17.27 DZD 2,291

139.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$0.69 DZD 91.8

113.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.36 DZD 48.38

444.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$5.33 DZD 706

45.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.36 DZD 48.27

163.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$32.8K DZD 4.3M

-44.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$33.7K DZD 4.5M

-21.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$40.61 DZD 5,385

102.54%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$9.29 DZD 1,232

2.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$16.68 DZD 2,212

45.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$18.01 DZD 2,389

43.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.31 DZD 705

-25.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$93.2 DZD 12.4K

232.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,592 DZD 476.4K

66.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$36.16 DZD 4,796

62.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$45.54 DZD 6,040

-28.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$76.0 DZD 10.1K

34.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$76.2 DZD 10.1K

42.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$198 DZD 26.2K

140.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$117 DZD 15.6K

222.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$275 DZD 36.4K

205.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$182 DZD 24.1K

298.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,147 DZD 152.2K

143.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,033 DZD 137.0K

17.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$359 DZD 47.6K

42.69%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $198 in Sidi Bel Abbes. 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 43% 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 $22.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $210 in Sidi Bel Abbes – 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 Sidi Bel Abbes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $918 in Sidi Bel Abbes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidi Bel Abbes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $22.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $612 in Sidi Bel Abbes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Bel Abbes, where all-in costs run around $612, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Sidi Bel Abbes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sidi Bel Abbes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sidi Bel Abbes. 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.