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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $597 per month in Tlemcen vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $909 per month in Tlemcen vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Tlemcen vs $2,120 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 55% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.17 DZD 288
$5.92 COP 21.5K
-63.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.14 DZD 1,610
$32.75 COP 119.1K
-62.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.80 DZD 504
$7.20 COP 26.2K
-47.22%
Cappuccino
$0.38 DZD 50.8
$1.70 COP 6,186
-77.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 DZD 62.6
$1.10 COP 3,996
-57.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 DZD 27.73
$0.72 COP 2,625
-70.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 DZD 265
$1.67 COP 6,067
19.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 DZD 320
$3.10 COP 11.3K
-22.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.71 DZD 94.4
$1.06 COP 3,837
-33.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.16 DZD 20.92
$1.25 COP 4,531
-87.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 DZD 250
$1.39 COP 5,060
35.97%
Eggs
$1.76 DZD 233
$2.26 COP 8,229
-22.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.15 DZD 1,214
$4.33 COP 15.8K
111.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.49 DZD 462
$5.84 COP 21.2K
-40.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 DZD 1,785
$8.83 COP 32.1K
52.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 DZD 329
$2.24 COP 8,159
10.71%
Banana (1kg)
$3.24 DZD 430
$1.08 COP 3,911
200.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 DZD 218
$1.53 COP 5,563
7.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 DZD 86.0
$1.37 COP 4,987
-52.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 DZD 67.9
$1.13 COP 4,109
-54.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 DZD 71.9
$1.12 COP 4,067
-51.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 DZD 106
$0.85 COP 3,080
-5.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 DZD 48.70
$0.91 COP 3,305
-59.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.36 DZD 313
$2.33 COP 8,477
1.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 DZD 1,363
$11.13 COP 40.5K
-7.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 DZD 178
$1.19 COP 4,342
12.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 DZD 288
$2.37 COP 8,617
-8.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 DZD 24.25
$0.79 COP 2,859
-77.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.27 DZD 2,291
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-58.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.65 DZD 86.2
$1.44 COP 5,223
-54.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 DZD 44.60
$1.91 COP 6,952
-82.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.46 DZD 724
$8.02 COP 29.2K
-31.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 DZD 44.11
$0.94 COP 3,410
-64.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K DZD 4.3M
$17.9K COP 65.2M
81.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K DZD 4.5M
$26.8K COP 97.4M
27.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.7 DZD 6,724
$84.0 COP 305.4K
-39.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.63 DZD 1,012
$9.60 COP 34.9K
-20.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.73 DZD 2,219
$24.16 COP 87.9K
-30.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.26 DZD 3,084
$25.88 COP 94.1K
-10.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.55 DZD 736
$3.92 COP 14.2K
41.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 DZD 12.6K
$306 COP 1.1M
-69.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,639 DZD 482.6K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
-38.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.63 DZD 4,857
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-36.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.88 DZD 6,085
$31.82 COP 115.7K
44.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 DZD 9,963
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-24.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 DZD 10.4K
$107 COP 389.7K
-27.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 DZD 25.8K
$487 COP 1.8M
-60.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 DZD 15.5K
$368 COP 1.3M
-68.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 DZD 36.4K
$826 COP 3.0M
-66.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 DZD 24.8K
$716 COP 2.6M
-73.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$253 DZD 33.5K
$546 COP 2.0M
-53.69%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Tlemcen versus $487 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 116% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Tlemcen vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 73%, 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 $896 per month in Tlemcen and $1,550 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 $597 in Tlemcen and $1,034 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 $597, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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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