Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,215 per month in Ahmadi vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,022 per month in Ahmadi vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,828 per month in Ahmadi vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Ahmadi is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ahmadi sits 12% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.17 KWD 2.52

$8.03 COP 25.3K

1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.27 KWD 13.67

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-8.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 KWD 2.35

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-21.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 KWD 0.49

Cappuccino

$4.31 KWD 1.33

$2.91 COP 9,167

48.11%

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

$0.56 KWD 0.17

$1.94 COP 6,122

-71.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.12

$1.52 COP 4,792

-75.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,740

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.36 COP 4,296

-3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$2.39 COP 7,519

-65.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.70 COP 5,356

-2.35%

Eggs

$1.34 KWD 0.41

$2.87 COP 9,038

-53.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.30 KWD 1.02

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-66.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 KWD 1.51

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-54.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.31 KWD 3.18

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-30.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-63.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.57 COP 4,950

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 KWD 0.36

$2.13 COP 6,695

-45.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$2.21 COP 6,972

-62.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 KWD 0.15

$2.05 COP 6,447

-75.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$1.50 COP 4,737

-68.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.19 COP 3,747

7.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 KWD 0.18

$1.16 COP 3,647

-49.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.98

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 KWD 0.85

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-29.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,987

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,905

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 KWD 0.30

$1.17 COP 3,679

-16.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.47 KWD 9.10

$77.7 COP 244.8K

-62.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

$1.28 COP 4,045

160.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

$2.09 COP 6,589

59.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.09 KWD 4.97

$8.62 COP 27.1K

86.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$1.30 COP 4,088

-72.31%

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

$21.3K KWD 6,560

$27.7K COP 87.1M

-23.16%

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

$18.3K KWD 5,653

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-48.43%

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

$66.1 KWD 20.40

$176 COP 554.5K

-62.46%

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

$16.11 KWD 4.97

$13.37 COP 42.1K

20.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.67 KWD 9.16

$29.89 COP 94.1K

-0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$119 KWD 36.61

$44.76 COP 141.0K

164.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.90 KWD 10.16

$17.06 COP 53.7K

92.85%

Cinema Ticket

$10.43 KWD 3.22

$6.20 COP 19.5K

68.23%

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

$95.6 KWD 29.51

$793 COP 2.5M

-87.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,406 KWD 2,904

$9,019 COP 28.4M

4.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.03 KWD 11.74

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-55.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.93 KWD 12.02

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-33.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 KWD 30.05

$136 COP 429.3K

-28.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 KWD 27.24

$103 COP 324.7K

-14.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$658 KWD 203

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$544 KWD 168

$680 COP 2.1M

-19.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 KWD 502

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-19.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 KWD 380

$1,169 COP 3.7M

5.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,134 KWD 967

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-23.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,518 KWD 777

$1,701 COP 5.4M

48.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,596 KWD 1,110

$665 COP 2.1M

440.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.67

10.94

-57.31%

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

Last update for Ahmadi: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Ahmadi versus $1,060 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 441% higher in Ahmadi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Ahmadi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $139 vs $303 – making Ahmadi 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

Ahmadi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,822 per month in Ahmadi and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $95.6 per month in Ahmadi and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 119% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ahmadi, where all-in costs run around $1,215, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Ahmadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ahmadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ahmadi. 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.