🙂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 – Tlemcen56% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25DZD 298
$5.95COP 20.8K
-62.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.25DZD 1,623
$33.33COP 116.3K
-63.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.86DZD 512
$7.23COP 25.2K
-46.61%
Cappuccino
$0.39DZD 51.2
$1.63COP 5,687
-76.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51DZD 67.2
$1.09COP 3,821
-53.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.82
$0.73COP 2,548
-71.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90DZD 252
$1.74COP 6,065
9.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41DZD 319
$3.23COP 11.3K
-25.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67DZD 89.4
$1.05COP 3,662
-36.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 21.23
$1.29COP 4,515
-87.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88DZD 249
$1.32COP 4,617
42.42%
Eggs
$1.77DZD 234
$2.27COP 7,927
-22.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.74DZD 1,158
$4.35COP 15.2K
100.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60DZD 478
$5.88COP 20.5K
-38.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.16DZD 1,744
$8.61COP 30.0K
52.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43DZD 322
$2.25COP 7,844
8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$3.30DZD 437
$1.07COP 3,733
208.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60DZD 212
$1.52COP 5,322
5.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61DZD 80.8
$1.42COP 4,964
-57.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48DZD 63.2
$1.17COP 4,084
-58.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55DZD 72.4
$1.17COP 4,077
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75DZD 99.4
$0.89COP 3,096
-15.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36DZD 47.89
$0.90COP 3,146
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36DZD 313
$2.25COP 7,837
4.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.04DZD 1,331
$11.04COP 38.5K
-9.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 177
$1.14COP 3,977
17.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10DZD 279
$2.38COP 8,301
-11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18DZD 24.10
$0.84COP 2,916
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.11DZD 2,267
$41.95COP 146.4K
-59.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69DZD 91.9
$1.41COP 4,912
-51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.81
$1.90COP 6,634
-82.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.44DZD 721
$7.75COP 27.0K
-29.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.30DZD 40.30
$1.01COP 3,509
-70.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
85.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KDZD 4.5M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
27.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.93DZD 6,617
$83.7COP 292.1K
-40.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.80DZD 1,034
$9.45COP 33.0K
-17.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.26DZD 2,288
$24.11COP 84.1K
-28.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.23DZD 3,079
$25.31COP 88.3K
-8.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.55DZD 736
$4.10COP 14.3K
35.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8DZD 12.6K
$312COP 1.1M
-69.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,538DZD 468.9K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-40.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.30DZD 4,811
$58.0COP 202.6K
-37.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.12DZD 5,980
$32.56COP 113.6K
38.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3DZD 9,853
$99.6COP 347.7K
-25.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3DZD 10.4K
$109COP 378.8K
-27.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194DZD 25.7K
$482COP 1.7M
-59.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115DZD 15.3K
$379COP 1.3M
-69.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278DZD 36.8K
$837COP 2.9M
-66.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182DZD 24.1K
$723COP 2.5M
-74.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$249DZD 33.0K
$541COP 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.