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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $462 per month in Setif vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $776 per month in Setif vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,089 per month in Setif vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Setif is about 54% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Setif and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Setif 66% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38 DZD 315
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-60.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.25 DZD 2,157
$32.86 COP 117.2K
-50.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.88 DZD 515
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-45.28%
Cappuccino
$0.63 DZD 83.8
$1.71 COP 6,105
-63.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 DZD 76.5
$1.10 COP 3,918
-47.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 DZD 30.58
$0.78 COP 2,776
-70.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 DZD 189
$1.68 COP 5,987
-15.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 DZD 292
$3.07 COP 10.9K
-28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 DZD 97.8
$1.09 COP 3,899
-32.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.14 DZD 19.00
$1.26 COP 4,500
-88.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 DZD 136
$1.38 COP 4,914
-25.36%
Eggs
$1.81 DZD 240
$2.19 COP 7,813
-17.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.50 DZD 862
$4.40 COP 15.7K
47.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.10 DZD 676
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-9.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.50 DZD 1,924
$8.89 COP 31.7K
63.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 DZD 366
$2.34 COP 8,334
17.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 DZD 388
$1.06 COP 3,771
175.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 DZD 193
$1.50 COP 5,365
-2.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 DZD 103
$1.38 COP 4,915
-43.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 DZD 69.2
$1.15 COP 4,104
-54.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 DZD 62.2
$1.16 COP 4,148
-59.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 DZD 60.6
$0.89 COP 3,176
-48.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.64
$0.84 COP 2,992
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 DZD 370
$2.28 COP 8,131
22.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.41 DZD 718
$10.64 COP 37.9K
-49.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 DZD 179
$1.20 COP 4,276
12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 DZD 267
$2.47 COP 8,809
-18.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Setif
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 DZD 22.40
$0.86 COP 3,051
-80.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.69 DZD 755
$41.40 COP 147.6K
-86.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 DZD 94.2
$1.47 COP 5,255
-51.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 DZD 44.53
$1.96 COP 6,997
-82.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 DZD 657
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-36.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 DZD 44.35
$0.95 COP 3,403
-65.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K DZD 3.8M
$18.1K COP 64.6M
56.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K DZD 2.7M
$26.5K COP 94.4M
-22.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.44 DZD 5,234
$82.3 COP 293.2K
-52.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56 DZD 1,269
$9.50 COP 33.9K
0.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.34 DZD 1,771
$24.23 COP 86.4K
-44.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.43 DZD 2,445
$25.89 COP 92.3K
-28.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.65 DZD 750
$19.00 COP 67.7K
-70.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57 DZD 739
$3.93 COP 14.0K
41.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.5 DZD 12.4K
$309 COP 1.1M
-69.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,549 DZD 470.9K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-40.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.93 DZD 3,309
$58.7 COP 209.1K
-57.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.95 DZD 3,576
$32.35 COP 115.3K
-16.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.23 DZD 5,871
$103 COP 365.7K
-56.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 DZD 7,295
$108 COP 386.5K
-49.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setif
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$74.8 DZD 9,931
$476 COP 1.7M
-84.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$56.2 DZD 7,458
$379 COP 1.4M
-85.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$179 DZD 23.8K
$838 COP 3.0M
-78.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$155 DZD 20.5K
$724 COP 2.6M
-78.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$957 DZD 127.1K
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-65.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$383 DZD 50.9K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-68.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 DZD 40.3K
$512 COP 1.8M
-40.67%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.8 in Setif versus $476 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 69% 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 $188 – 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 119%, 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 $693 per month in Setif and $1,519 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 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $462 in Setif and $1,013 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 Setif or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Setif, where all-in costs run around $462, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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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