Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tlemcen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tlemcen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $590 in Tlemcen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $902 in Tlemcen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,215 in Tlemcen, rent included.

Medellin costs about 72% more than Tlemcen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Tlemcen are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Tlemcen 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.25 DZD 298

164.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$12.25 DZD 1,623

172.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.86 DZD 512

87.31%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.39 DZD 51.2

317.95%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.51 DZD 67.2

113.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.21 DZD 27.82

247.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.90 DZD 252

-8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.41 DZD 319

34.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.67 DZD 89.4

56.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.16 DZD 21.23

706.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.88 DZD 249

-29.79%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.77 DZD 234

28.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$8.74 DZD 1,158

-50.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.60 DZD 478

63.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$13.16 DZD 1,744

-34.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.43 DZD 322

-7.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$3.30 DZD 437

-67.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.60 DZD 212

-5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.61 DZD 80.8

132.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.48 DZD 63.2

143.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.55 DZD 72.4

112.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.75 DZD 99.4

18.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.36 DZD 47.89

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.36 DZD 313

-4.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$10.04 DZD 1,331

9.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.34 DZD 177

-14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.10 DZD 279

13.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.18 DZD 24.10

366.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$17.11 DZD 2,267

145.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.69 DZD 91.9

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.34 DZD 44.81

458.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.44 DZD 721

42.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.30 DZD 40.30

236.67%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$32.6K DZD 4.3M

-46.00%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$33.9K DZD 4.5M

-21.73%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$49.93 DZD 6,617

67.59%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$7.80 DZD 1,034

21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$17.26 DZD 2,288

39.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$23.23 DZD 3,079

8.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.55 DZD 736

-26.13%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$94.8 DZD 12.6K

229.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,538 DZD 468.9K

69.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$36.30 DZD 4,811

59.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$45.12 DZD 5,980

-27.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$74.3 DZD 9,853

34.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$78.3 DZD 10.4K

38.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$194 DZD 25.7K

148.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$115 DZD 15.3K

229.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$278 DZD 36.8K

201.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$182 DZD 24.1K

297.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$249 DZD 33.0K

117.20%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tlemcen: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $194 in Tlemcen. 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 117% 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 $12.00 in Tlemcen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $189 – making Tlemcen 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 Tlemcen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 72%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $884 in Tlemcen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tlemcen, 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 $12.00 in Tlemcen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $590 in Tlemcen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tlemcen, where all-in costs run around $590, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Tlemcen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tlemcen – 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 Tlemcen. 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.