Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Souk Ahras Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Souk Ahras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $524 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $815 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,106 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

Medellin costs about 222% more than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Souk Ahras is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$2.33 DZD 309
238.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$10.96 DZD 1,453
306.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$4.76 DZD 631
95.17%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$0.71 DZD 94.2
308.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$0.51 DZD 67.3
254.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$0.28 DZD 36.91
453.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$1.83 DZD 243
77.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$2.32 DZD 307
153.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$0.81 DZD 108
70.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$0.22 DZD 29.10
1013.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$1.30 DZD 172
16.15%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$1.35 DZD 180
105.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$3.46 DZD 459
161.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$2.89 DZD 383
268.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$16.60 DZD 2,200
-11.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$1.53 DZD 203
159.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$3.01 DZD 398
-54.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$1.24 DZD 165
85.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$0.94 DZD 125
114.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$0.41 DZD 54.0
409.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$0.41 DZD 54.9
297.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$0.23 DZD 30.34
369.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$0.27 DZD 35.52
362.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$2.30 DZD 304
75.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$7.26 DZD 963
85.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$1.24 DZD 164
29.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$1.86 DZD 247
61.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
$0.22 DZD 29.72
436.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
$5.07 DZD 672
1476.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$0.59 DZD 78.2
172.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$0.50 DZD 66.5
326.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$5.49 DZD 727
55.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$0.30 DZD 40.41
350.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$35.9K DZD 4.8M
-21.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$35.1K DZD 4.7M
1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$38.41 DZD 5,090
294.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$9.96 DZD 1,320
31.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$20.29 DZD 2,689
59.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
$11.92 DZD 1,579
288.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
$4.00 DZD 530
331.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$4.60 DZD 610
39.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$92.6 DZD 12.3K
801.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$4,601 DZD 609.8K
93.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$30.61 DZD 4,057
191.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$37.34 DZD 4,948
48.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$80.5 DZD 10.7K
69.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$79.7 DZD 10.6K
37.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
$149 DZD 19.7K
538.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
$96.7 DZD 12.8K
590.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
$298 DZD 39.5K
578.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
$182 DZD 24.1K
531.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
$1,132 DZD 150.0K
226.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$1,135 DZD 150.4K
39.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$301 DZD 39.8K
108.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
5.3
96.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Souk Ahras: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $149 in Souk Ahras. 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 108% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $11.00 in Souk Ahras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $162 – making Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Souk Ahras cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 222%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $787 in Souk Ahras. 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 Souk Ahras, 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 Souk Ahras?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $11.00 in Souk Ahras. 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 Souk Ahras?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $524 in Souk Ahras. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Souk Ahras?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Souk Ahras, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Souk Ahras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Souk Ahras more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Souk Ahras – 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 Souk Ahras?
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 Souk Ahras. 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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