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