Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'amarah and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $681 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,090 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,499 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 34% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Al-'amarah and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Al-'amarah 49% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 IQD 5,175

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-33.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.93 IQD 32.7K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-23.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 IQD 9,106

$7.20 COP 26.0K

-3.47%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,369

$1.70 COP 6,140

51.18%

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

$0.37 IQD 481

$1.10 COP 3,966

-66.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 250

$0.72 COP 2,605

-73.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 IQD 3,756

$1.67 COP 6,022

71.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 IQD 3,678

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-9.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 IQD 2,442

$1.06 COP 3,809

75.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 IQD 979

$1.25 COP 4,497

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 IQD 1,427

$1.39 COP 5,022

-21.58%

Eggs

$1.50 IQD 1,963

$2.26 COP 8,168

-33.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 IQD 5,774

$4.33 COP 15.6K

1.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 IQD 6,150

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-19.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.07 IQD 17.1K

$8.83 COP 31.9K

48.02%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 IQD 1,122

$2.24 COP 8,099

-61.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,415

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 IQD 1,168

$1.53 COP 5,522

-41.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 517

$1.37 COP 4,950

-71.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 971

$1.13 COP 4,078

-34.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 450

$1.12 COP 4,036

-69.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 817

$0.85 COP 3,057

-27.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 618

$0.91 COP 3,281

-48.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 IQD 2,430

$2.33 COP 8,414

-20.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,385

$1.19 COP 4,309

52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 IQD 2,752

$2.37 COP 8,553

-11.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.79 COP 2,838

-53.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.84 IQD 40.4K

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-25.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 IQD 2,214

$1.44 COP 5,184

17.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,025

$1.91 COP 6,901

-18.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 IQD 8,067

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-23.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 434

$0.94 COP 3,385

-64.89%

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

$19.3K IQD 25.2M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

7.48%

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

$20.0K IQD 26.2M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-25.29%

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

$78.3 IQD 102.6K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-6.75%

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

$17.40 IQD 22.8K

$9.60 COP 34.7K

81.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.87 IQD 45.7K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

44.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.48 IQD 29.4K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

-13.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-12.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

$3.92 COP 14.1K

95.92%

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

$150 IQD 196.3K

$306 COP 1.1M

-51.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,269 IQD 4.3M

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-44.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.78 IQD 35.1K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-53.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.37 IQD 33.2K

$31.82 COP 114.9K

-20.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-38.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.93 IQD 53.6K

$107 COP 386.8K

-61.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 IQD 419.8K

$487 COP 1.8M

-34.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$130 IQD 170.2K

$368 COP 1.3M

-64.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 IQD 584.3K

$826 COP 3.0M

-45.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 449.7K

$716 COP 2.6M

-52.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$574 IQD 752.3K

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-80.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 IQD 661.2K

$546 COP 2.0M

-7.48%

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 Al-'amarah: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Al-'amarah 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 8% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $190 – making Al-'amarah 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

Al-'amarah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,022 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 24% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al-'amarah and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $681, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – 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 Al-'amarah. 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.