Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,575 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

'aqrah is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both 'aqrah and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – 'aqrah 45% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.17 IQD 5,454

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-32.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.73 IQD 32.4K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-24.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 IQD 8,791

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-8.58%

Cappuccino

$2.54 IQD 3,331

$1.72 COP 5,600

47.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 517

$1.05 COP 3,420

-62.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 240

$0.77 COP 2,515

-76.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 IQD 3,792

$1.69 COP 5,488

71.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,783

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-8.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.05 COP 3,423

29.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 IQD 1,044

$1.30 COP 4,236

-38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 IQD 2,171

$1.40 COP 4,544

18.57%

Eggs

$1.79 IQD 2,340

$2.16 COP 7,047

-17.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 IQD 5,941

$4.39 COP 14.3K

3.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 6,000

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-22.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.11 IQD 17.2K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

51.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,566

$2.28 COP 7,426

-47.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,565

$1.11 COP 3,604

7.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$1.53 COP 4,983

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 900

$1.35 COP 4,410

-48.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 853

$1.13 COP 3,674

-42.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 868

$1.13 COP 3,692

-41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 IQD 834

$0.85 COP 2,753

-24.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 729

$0.91 COP 2,975

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,554

$2.34 COP 7,630

-16.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,406

$1.20 COP 3,909

53.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,842

$2.49 COP 8,104

-12.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 478

$0.84 COP 2,728

-55.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.16 IQD 40.8K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-23.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,035

$1.42 COP 4,623

63.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 IQD 1,929

$1.92 COP 6,235

-23.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 IQD 7,748

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-22.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 IQD 750

$0.99 COP 3,223

-42.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

6.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-23.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-5.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.72 IQD 23.2K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

78.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.91 IQD 45.7K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

44.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.87 IQD 48.3K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

47.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-10.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

$3.98 COP 13.0K

97.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$153 IQD 200.3K

$305 COP 993.5K

-49.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,257 IQD 4.3M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-46.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-54.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-21.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

$101 COP 327.9K

-40.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.78 IQD 53.4K

$108 COP 350.8K

-62.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 IQD 317.0K

$477 COP 1.6M

-49.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 IQD 230.4K

$376 COP 1.2M

-53.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 IQD 756.8K

$845 COP 2.7M

-31.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 IQD 443.7K

$730 COP 2.4M

-53.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

13.43

-57.78%

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

Last update for 'aqrah: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in 'aqrah versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in 'aqrah versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $193 – making 'aqrah 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

'aqrah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 39% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,109 per month in 'aqrah and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $739 in 'aqrah and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Medellin at $1,031. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. 'aqrah costs $739 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with 'aqrah. 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.