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 $273 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $294 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $316 per month in Al-'amarah vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 84% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-'amarah sits 80% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 IQD 2,477

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-76.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 IQD 5,883

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-54.60%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.72 IQD 3,567

$1.44 COP 4,509

88.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 965

$2.49 COP 7,759

-70.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 IQD 1,214

$1.77 COP 5,535

-47.46%

Eggs

$1.49 IQD 1,945

$2.96 COP 9,235

-49.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

Apples (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 978

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-81.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,519

$1.61 COP 5,019

-27.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$2.25 COP 7,007

-64.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.26 IQD 340

$2.25 COP 7,028

-88.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$2.04 COP 6,375

-61.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 IQD 519

$1.54 COP 4,790

-74.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 733

$1.31 COP 4,077

-57.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,030

$1.31 COP 4,084

76.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 IQD 431

$1.37 COP 4,260

-75.91%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$177 COP 553.2K

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.98 IQD 35.3K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-9.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.44 IQD 39.9K

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-32.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 IQD 198.5K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-85.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 150.3K

$663 COP 2.1M

-82.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 IQD 254.9K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-89.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$578 IQD 757.5K

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-86.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 IQD 655.6K

$678 COP 2.1M

-26.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Al-'amarah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Al-'amarah versus $1,062 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 35% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 516%, 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 $409 per month in Al-'amarah and $2,521 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $273 in Al-'amarah and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 340% 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 Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $273, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.