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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Tlemcen is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25 DZD 298
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-62.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.25 DZD 1,623
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-63.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.86 DZD 512
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-46.61%
Cappuccino
$0.39 DZD 51.2
$1.63 COP 5,687
-76.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 DZD 67.2
$1.09 COP 3,821
-53.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 DZD 27.82
$0.73 COP 2,548
-71.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 DZD 252
$1.74 COP 6,065
9.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 DZD 319
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-25.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.67 DZD 89.4
$1.05 COP 3,662
-36.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.16 DZD 21.23
$1.29 COP 4,515
-87.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 DZD 249
$1.32 COP 4,617
42.42%
Eggs
$1.77 DZD 234
$2.27 COP 7,927
-22.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 DZD 1,158
$4.35 COP 15.2K
100.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 DZD 478
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-38.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 DZD 1,744
$8.61 COP 30.0K
52.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 DZD 322
$2.25 COP 7,844
8.00%
Banana (1kg)
$3.30 DZD 437
$1.07 COP 3,733
208.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 DZD 212
$1.52 COP 5,322
5.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 DZD 80.8
$1.42 COP 4,964
-57.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 DZD 63.2
$1.17 COP 4,084
-58.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 DZD 72.4
$1.17 COP 4,077
-52.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 DZD 99.4
$0.89 COP 3,096
-15.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 DZD 47.89
$0.90 COP 3,146
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 DZD 313
$2.25 COP 7,837
4.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.04 DZD 1,331
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-9.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 DZD 177
$1.14 COP 3,977
17.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 DZD 279
$2.38 COP 8,301
-11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 DZD 24.10
$0.84 COP 2,916
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.11 DZD 2,267
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-59.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 DZD 91.9
$1.41 COP 4,912
-51.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 DZD 44.81
$1.90 COP 6,634
-82.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.44 DZD 721
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-29.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.30 DZD 40.30
$1.01 COP 3,509
-70.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K DZD 4.3M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
85.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K DZD 4.5M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
27.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.93 DZD 6,617
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-40.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.80 DZD 1,034
$9.45 COP 33.0K
-17.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.26 DZD 2,288
$24.11 COP 84.1K
-28.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.23 DZD 3,079
$25.31 COP 88.3K
-8.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.55 DZD 736
$4.10 COP 14.3K
35.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 DZD 12.6K
$312 COP 1.1M
-69.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,538 DZD 468.9K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-40.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.30 DZD 4,811
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-37.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.12 DZD 5,980
$32.56 COP 113.6K
38.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.3 DZD 9,853
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-25.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3 DZD 10.4K
$109 COP 378.8K
-27.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 DZD 25.7K
$482 COP 1.7M
-59.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 DZD 15.3K
$379 COP 1.3M
-69.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 DZD 36.8K
$837 COP 2.9M
-66.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 DZD 24.1K
$723 COP 2.5M
-74.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$249 DZD 33.0K
$541 COP 1.9M
-53.96%
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 Tlemcen: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Tlemcen versus $482 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 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 $12.00 in Tlemcen versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $190 – 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
Tlemcen vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tlemcen?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $884 per month in Tlemcen and $1,525 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 Tlemcen, 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 Tlemcen or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Tlemcen 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 Tlemcen vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $590 in Tlemcen and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tlemcen or Medellin?
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.
Is Tlemcen or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Tlemcen 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 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.

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