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 $671 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,086 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,501 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,188 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 50% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 IQD 5,267

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-32.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.90 IQD 32.6K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-25.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,193

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-2.90%

Cappuccino

$2.60 IQD 3,401

$1.63 COP 5,687

59.51%

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

$0.40 IQD 521

$1.09 COP 3,821

-63.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 255

$0.73 COP 2,548

-73.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 IQD 3,736

$1.74 COP 6,065

63.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 IQD 3,779

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-10.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 IQD 2,364

$1.05 COP 3,662

72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,030

$1.29 COP 4,515

-38.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.32 COP 4,617

-15.15%

Eggs

$1.55 IQD 2,027

$2.27 COP 7,927

-31.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 IQD 5,951

$4.35 COP 15.2K

4.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,074

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-21.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

50.52%

Apples (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,197

$2.25 COP 7,844

-59.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,416

$1.07 COP 3,733

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$1.52 COP 5,322

-42.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 IQD 514

$1.42 COP 4,964

-72.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 IQD 989

$1.17 COP 4,084

-35.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 IQD 452

$1.17 COP 4,077

-70.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 IQD 827

$0.89 COP 3,096

-29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 IQD 617

$0.90 COP 3,146

-47.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,573

$2.25 COP 7,837

-12.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,341

$1.14 COP 3,977

57.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 IQD 2,769

$2.38 COP 8,301

-11.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 IQD 484

$0.84 COP 2,916

-55.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.73 IQD 41.5K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-24.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 IQD 2,188

$1.41 COP 4,912

18.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,936

$1.90 COP 6,634

-22.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 IQD 7,988

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-21.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 404

$1.01 COP 3,509

-69.31%

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

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

10.35%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-23.42%

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

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-9.08%

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

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

89.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.06 IQD 44.6K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

41.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-10.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 IQD 22.2K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-11.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

88.29%

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

$154 IQD 201.2K

$312 COP 1.1M

-50.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-45.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-23.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-37.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.10 IQD 53.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

-62.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 IQD 434.1K

$482 COP 1.7M

-31.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 173.3K

$379 COP 1.3M

-65.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 IQD 578.0K

$837 COP 2.9M

-47.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.8K

$723 COP 2.5M

-52.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$581 IQD 760.9K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-79.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 IQD 663.1K

$541 COP 1.9M

-6.37%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $331 in Al-'amarah versus $482 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 7% 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 $1,006 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,525 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 $671, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.