Cost of Living Comparison Between Setif and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Setif and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $452 per month in Setif vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $762 per month in Setif vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,071 per month in Setif vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Setif is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Setif and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Setif 66% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 DZD 303
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-62.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.12 DZD 2,136
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-50.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.91 DZD 519
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-46.73%
Cappuccino
$0.67 DZD 89.2
$1.72 COP 5,599
-61.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 DZD 79.9
$1.05 COP 3,420
-42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 DZD 27.74
$0.77 COP 2,515
-72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 DZD 196
$1.69 COP 5,487
-12.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 DZD 281
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-33.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 DZD 93.3
$1.05 COP 3,423
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.14 DZD 18.16
$1.30 COP 4,236
-89.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 DZD 142
$1.40 COP 4,544
-23.57%
Eggs
$1.85 DZD 246
$2.16 COP 7,046
-14.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.69 DZD 887
$4.39 COP 14.3K
52.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.09 DZD 674
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-13.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.07 DZD 1,864
$8.64 COP 28.1K
62.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 DZD 374
$2.28 COP 7,425
23.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.97 DZD 393
$1.11 COP 3,603
167.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 DZD 198
$1.53 COP 4,982
-1.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 DZD 101
$1.35 COP 4,410
-43.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 DZD 69.0
$1.13 COP 3,674
-53.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 66.5
$1.13 COP 3,692
-55.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 DZD 59.9
$0.85 COP 2,753
-47.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.66
$0.91 COP 2,975
-69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 DZD 373
$2.34 COP 7,629
20.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.33 DZD 707
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-56.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 DZD 178
$1.20 COP 3,909
11.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 DZD 280
$2.49 COP 8,104
-15.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Setif
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 DZD 20.85
$0.84 COP 2,727
-80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.89 DZD 781
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-85.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 DZD 93.8
$1.42 COP 4,623
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 DZD 44.94
$1.92 COP 6,235
-82.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.11 DZD 677
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-33.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.37 DZD 48.47
$0.99 COP 3,223
-62.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K DZD 3.8M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
60.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K DZD 2.8M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-21.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.53 DZD 5,106
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-52.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.25 DZD 1,226
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-7.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.15 DZD 1,743
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-45.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.16 DZD 2,406
$25.08 COP 81.6K
-27.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.69 DZD 754
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-70.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59 DZD 741
$3.98 COP 13.0K
40.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.8 DZD 12.4K
$305 COP 993.4K
-69.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,669 DZD 486.2K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-39.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.41 DZD 3,235
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-58.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.82 DZD 3,554
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-16.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.78 DZD 5,935
$101 COP 327.9K
-55.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4 DZD 7,473
$108 COP 350.8K
-47.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setif
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$74.8 DZD 9,911
$477 COP 1.6M
-84.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$54.9 DZD 7,281
$376 COP 1.2M
-85.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$182 DZD 24.1K
$845 COP 2.7M
-78.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 DZD 20.2K
$730 COP 2.4M
-79.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$922 DZD 122.2K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-71.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$386 DZD 51.2K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-71.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$299 DZD 39.7K
$617 COP 2.0M
-51.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.42
13.43
-59.64%

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

Last update for Setif: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.8 in Setif versus $477 in Medellin. 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 106% 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 $16.00 in Setif versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $193 – making Setif 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
Setif vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Setif?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 128%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $679 per month in Setif and $1,546 in Medellin. 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 Setif, 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 Setif or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Setif and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Setif and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $452 in Setif and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Setif or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Setif, where all-in costs run around $452, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Setif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Setif or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Setif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Setif or Medellin?
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 Setif. 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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