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 $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $549 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $837 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,126 in Souk Ahras, rent included.

Medellin costs about 88% more than Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Souk Ahras are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Souk Ahras 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.2K
$2.46 DZD 325
140.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 118.7K
$10.63 DZD 1,407
212.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 COP 25.9K
$3.80 DZD 503
90.79%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,137
$0.67 DZD 88.5
155.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,915
$0.51 DZD 67.3
113.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,743
$0.21 DZD 27.78
266.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COP 6,254
$1.91 DZD 253
-8.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 11.4K
$2.40 DZD 318
32.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,792
$0.87 DZD 115
21.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,657
$0.20 DZD 26.33
550.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,926
$1.24 DZD 164
11.29%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 7,908
$1.89 DZD 250
16.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 COP 16.2K
$3.42 DZD 452
32.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.7K
$2.80 DZD 371
107.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 32.1K
$16.52 DZD 2,186
-45.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 COP 8,182
$1.54 DZD 204
48.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,791
$2.98 DZD 394
-64.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,411
$1.21 DZD 160
24.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,869
$1.23 DZD 162
10.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,146
$0.41 DZD 54.0
182.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,174
$0.39 DZD 51.0
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 COP 2,960
$0.23 DZD 30.40
260.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,043
$0.29 DZD 38.86
193.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,423
$2.17 DZD 288
8.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.09 COP 39.7K
$7.76 DZD 1,027
42.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 4,133
$1.31 DZD 173
-12.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,853
$2.14 DZD 283
15.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,827
$0.22 DZD 29.14
259.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.85 COP 149.8K
$17.09 DZD 2,262
144.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,140
$0.69 DZD 91.8
108.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,793
$0.44 DZD 58.9
331.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.70 COP 27.6K
$5.29 DZD 699
45.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 3,680
$0.33 DZD 43.94
212.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 63.3M
$32.5K DZD 4.3M
-45.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K COP 96.7M
$33.8K DZD 4.5M
-20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 COP 291.4K
$40.55 DZD 5,367
100.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 COP 33.7K
$9.58 DZD 1,268
-1.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 COP 85.1K
$19.65 DZD 2,601
20.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 COP 92.6K
$12.11 DZD 1,603
113.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 COP 69.2K
$3.92 DZD 519
393.37%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COP 14.5K
$5.45 DZD 721
-25.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$93.2 DZD 12.3K
235.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,067 COP 21.7M
$3,576 DZD 473.2K
69.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 COP 210.7K
$30.46 DZD 4,031
93.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82 COP 117.5K
$44.74 DZD 5,921
-26.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 COP 359.6K
$80.8 DZD 10.7K
24.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 380.3K
$79.0 DZD 10.4K
34.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 COP 1.8M
$194 DZD 25.7K
152.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$115 DZD 15.2K
223.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$305 DZD 40.3K
175.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COP 2.6M
$179 DZD 23.7K
298.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 COP 10.6M
$309 DZD 40.9K
855.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 COP 5.0M
$283 DZD 37.4K
392.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 COP 1.9M
$307 DZD 40.6K
73.28%
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 20, 2026

Last update for Souk Ahras: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $194 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 73% 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 in Medellin versus $11 in Souk Ahras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $166 – 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 88%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $823 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 Souk Ahras?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 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 vs Souk Ahras?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $549 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 Medellin or Souk Ahras?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Souk Ahras, where all-in costs run around $549, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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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