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 $674 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,091 per month in Al-'amarah vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,508 per month in Al-'amarah vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Al-'amarah is about 33% 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 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 IQD 5,211

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-32.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 IQD 32.3K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-25.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 IQD 9,188

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-5.52%

Cappuccino

$2.58 IQD 3,374

$1.65 COP 5,207

56.36%

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

$0.40 IQD 519

$1.10 COP 3,468

-63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 274

$0.78 COP 2,458

-73.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 IQD 3,917

$1.72 COP 5,412

73.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IQD 3,693

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-11.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 IQD 2,374

$1.10 COP 3,474

64.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,029

$1.26 COP 3,962

-37.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.38 COP 4,349

-21.74%

Eggs

$1.51 IQD 1,977

$2.18 COP 6,858

-30.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 IQD 5,995

$4.49 COP 14.1K

2.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 IQD 6,071

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-19.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

44.48%

Apples (1kg)

$0.87 IQD 1,136

$2.32 COP 7,308

-62.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 IQD 1,442

$1.06 COP 3,352

3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,189

$1.52 COP 4,774

-40.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.36 IQD 477

$1.36 COP 4,270

-73.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 987

$1.13 COP 3,552

-33.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 IQD 451

$1.17 COP 3,689

-70.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 IQD 893

$0.90 COP 2,838

-24.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 IQD 564

$0.90 COP 2,823

-52.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.23 COP 7,034

-11.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.19 COP 3,743

56.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 IQD 2,803

$2.48 COP 7,815

-13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$0.85 COP 2,687

-52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.59 IQD 40.1K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-26.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 IQD 2,105

$1.42 COP 4,459

13.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 IQD 2,007

$1.95 COP 6,141

-21.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,633

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-26.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 IQD 399

$0.99 COP 3,118

-68.69%

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

$18.8K IQD 24.6M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

6.57%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-25.12%

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

$76.2 IQD 99.7K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-8.25%

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

$17.79 IQD 23.3K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

83.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.10 IQD 44.6K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

44.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.64 IQD 29.6K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-10.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 IQD 21.7K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-13.04%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 IQD 9,772

$3.95 COP 12.4K

88.86%

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

$152 IQD 198.4K

$316 COP 994.2K

-52.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-46.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.00 IQD 35.4K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-55.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-19.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

$102 COP 320.1K

-40.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.26 IQD 54.0K

$107 COP 338.3K

-61.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 421.1K

$475 COP 1.5M

-32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 IQD 175.5K

$374 COP 1.2M

-64.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 IQD 585.4K

$849 COP 2.7M

-47.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 IQD 454.1K

$719 COP 2.3M

-51.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$564 IQD 738.9K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-82.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 IQD 662.0K

$624 COP 2.0M

-19.04%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $322 in Al-'amarah versus $475 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 24% 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 $193 – 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 49%, 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 $1,010 per month in Al-'amarah and $1,504 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 26% 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 $674, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.