Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Setif and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Setif: $412 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Setif
🇩🇿 Algeria
$412
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Setif and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Setif and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $412 per month in Setif vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Setif $412
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $683 per month in Setif vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Setif $683
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $953 per month in Setif vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Setif $953
  • Medellin $3,199

Setif is about 75% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Setif sits 70% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11 DZD 416
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-62.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.82 DZD 2,118
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-66.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.54 DZD 474
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-61.69%
Cappuccino
$0.58 DZD 78.0
$3.05 COP 9,676
-80.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 DZD 85.9
$1.80 COP 5,707
-64.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 DZD 23.39
$1.38 COP 4,382
-87.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 DZD 184
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-57.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 DZD 284
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-61.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 DZD 97.1
$1.50 COP 4,760
-51.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 DZD 19.48
$2.37 COP 7,508
-93.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 DZD 139
$1.70 COP 5,377
-38.82%
Eggs
$0.84 DZD 113
$2.96 COP 9,379
-71.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.46 DZD 865
$10.22 COP 32.4K
-36.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.00 DZD 535
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-58.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.51 DZD 1,943
$13.90 COP 44.1K
4.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 DZD 271
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-50.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 DZD 376
$1.53 COP 4,839
83.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 DZD 151
$2.22 COP 7,052
-49.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 DZD 108
$2.27 COP 7,194
-64.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 DZD 64.9
$1.99 COP 6,311
-75.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 DZD 60.7
$1.67 COP 5,285
-73.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 DZD 54.3
$1.18 COP 3,742
-65.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20 DZD 26.95
$1.24 COP 3,919
-83.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66 DZD 356
$3.87 COP 12.3K
-31.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.34 DZD 715
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-61.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 DZD 170
$1.66 COP 5,256
-23.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 DZD 262
$2.40 COP 7,615
-18.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Setif
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 DZD 15.86
$1.24 COP 3,944
-90.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.64 DZD 755
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-92.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 DZD 77.8
$1.28 COP 4,044
-54.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 DZD 48.66
$2.15 COP 6,803
-83.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.81 DZD 644
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-42.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.32 DZD 43.41
$1.35 COP 4,288
-76.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K DZD 3.8M
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-18.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K DZD 2.7M
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-42.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.09 DZD 4,698
$167 COP 528.4K
-78.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.61 DZD 1,287
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-29.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.55 DZD 1,680
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-56.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.42 DZD 2,332
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-61.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.64 DZD 755
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-67.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 DZD 610
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-34.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 DZD 73.7K
$790 COP 2.5M
-30.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,358 DZD 851.2K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-29.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.14 DZD 2,295
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-80.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.41 DZD 2,063
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-73.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$33.52 DZD 4,488
$139 COP 440.7K
-75.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 DZD 7,491
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-43.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setif
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$67.6 DZD 9,047
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-93.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$46.38 DZD 6,209
$620 COP 2.0M
-92.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$129 DZD 17.3K
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-93.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 DZD 15.0K
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-88.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$337 DZD 45.1K
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-91.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setif
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$294 DZD 39.3K
$663 COP 2.1M
-55.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.3
10.94
-51.55%

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

Last update for Setif: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Setif
$162
Medellin
$298 83.8% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
$57
Medellin
$209 266% $152
Eating Out
Setif
$57
Medellin
$171 200% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Setif
$55
Medellin
$173 215% $118
Accommodation & Living
Setif
$46
Medellin
$619 1236% $573
Sport & Entertainment
Setif
$27
Medellin
$59 123% $33
Getting Around
Setif
$8.5
Medellin
$95 1019% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $67.6 in Setif versus $1,028 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 126% 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 $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $298 – making Setif the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇩🇿 Setif
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:36 12:36 PM
06:36 6:36 AM
6 h behind Setif
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
288,461
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to DZD – Algerian Dinar Converter

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Setif Medellin 8,790 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Setif
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 294%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $619 per month in Setif and $2,437 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 $47.00 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 $412 in Setif and $1,625 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 294%.
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 $412, than in Medellin at $1,625. 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.

Setif vs other spots: cost of living compared

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