🙂A single person spends $586 per month in Tlemcen vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $908 per month in Tlemcen vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,230 per month in Tlemcen vs $2,143 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, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29DZD 303
$5.91COP 18.6K
-61.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.14DZD 1,605
$32.96COP 103.8K
-63.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.01DZD 530
$7.43COP 23.4K
-46.03%
Cappuccino
$0.35DZD 46.66
$1.65COP 5,207
-78.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48DZD 63.5
$1.10COP 3,468
-56.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.66
$0.78COP 2,458
-73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90DZD 252
$1.72COP 5,412
10.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34DZD 309
$3.18COP 10.0K
-26.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.66DZD 86.8
$1.10COP 3,474
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.11
$1.26COP 3,962
-89.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98DZD 261
$1.38COP 4,349
43.48%
Eggs
$1.72DZD 227
$2.18COP 6,858
-21.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.81DZD 1,165
$4.49COP 14.1K
96.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59DZD 475
$5.79COP 18.2K
-38.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.24DZD 1,751
$8.97COP 28.2K
47.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56DZD 338
$2.32COP 7,308
10.34%
Banana(1kg)
$3.19DZD 421
$1.06COP 3,352
200.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59DZD 210
$1.52COP 4,774
4.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61DZD 80.1
$1.36COP 4,270
-55.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48DZD 62.9
$1.13COP 3,552
-57.52%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51DZD 67.3
$1.17COP 3,689
-56.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80DZD 106
$0.90COP 2,838
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36DZD 47.74
$0.90COP 2,823
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.24DZD 296
$2.23COP 7,034
0.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.35DZD 1,236
$12.12COP 38.2K
-22.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 170
$1.19COP 3,743
8.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DZD 284
$2.48COP 7,815
-13.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17DZD 22.75
$0.85COP 2,687
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.62DZD 2,329
$41.62COP 131.0K
-57.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 93.7
$1.42COP 4,459
-50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 47.88
$1.95COP 6,141
-81.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39DZD 712
$7.89COP 24.8K
-31.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.09
$0.99COP 3,118
-66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KDZD 4.2M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
81.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KDZD 4.5M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
27.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.5DZD 6,672
$83.0COP 261.4K
-39.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.87DZD 1,040
$9.70COP 30.5K
-18.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.86DZD 2,229
$23.52COP 74.1K
-28.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.63DZD 3,124
$25.26COP 79.5K
-6.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.56DZD 735
$3.95COP 12.4K
40.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.4DZD 12.5K
$316COP 994.2K
-70.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,564DZD 471.2K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-40.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.65DZD 4,846
$60.0COP 188.9K
-38.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.93DZD 6,073
$31.82COP 100.2K
44.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9DZD 10.0K
$102COP 320.1K
-25.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9DZD 10.3K
$107COP 338.3K
-27.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192DZD 25.4K
$475COP 1.5M
-59.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113DZD 15.0K
$374COP 1.2M
-69.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272DZD 36.0K
$849COP 2.7M
-67.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187DZD 24.7K
$719COP 2.3M
-74.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tlemcen
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$245DZD 32.4K
$624COP 2.0M
-60.72%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $192 in Tlemcen versus $475 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 155% 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: $187 vs $193 – 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 71%, 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 $879 per month in Tlemcen and $1,504 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $586 in Tlemcen and $1,003 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 living in Tlemcen or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tlemcen, where all-in costs run around $586, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.