🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $455 in Al `arish versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $729 in Al `arish versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,004 in Al `arish versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al `arish costs roughly 55% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al `arish66% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98E£200
$5.91COP 18.6K
-32.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.71E£690
$32.96COP 103.8K
-58.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38E£271
$7.43COP 23.4K
-27.59%
Cappuccino
$1.46E£73.5
$1.65COP 5,207
-11.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39E£19.59
$1.10COP 3,468
-64.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13E£6.38
$0.78COP 2,458
-83.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27E£63.8
$1.72COP 5,412
-26.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94E£97.8
$3.18COP 10.0K
-38.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97E£49.00
$1.10COP 3,474
-11.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51E£25.83
$1.26COP 3,962
-59.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77E£38.49
$1.38COP 4,349
-44.20%
Eggs
$1.49E£75.1
$2.18COP 6,858
-31.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.06E£103
$4.49COP 14.1K
-54.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.17E£210
$5.79COP 18.2K
-27.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19E£412
$8.97COP 28.2K
-8.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.41E£70.9
$2.32COP 7,308
-39.22%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56E£28.06
$1.06COP 3,352
-47.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.36E£17.90
$1.52COP 4,774
-76.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.40E£20.03
$1.36COP 4,270
-70.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50E£25.03
$1.13COP 3,552
-55.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50E£25.13
$1.17COP 3,689
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.27E£13.39
$0.90COP 2,838
-70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.18E£9.01
$0.90COP 2,823
-80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88E£94.8
$2.23COP 7,034
-15.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.33E£218
$12.12COP 38.2K
-64.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40E£70.5
$1.19COP 3,743
17.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72E£86.6
$2.48COP 7,815
-30.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18E£9.15
$0.85COP 2,687
-78.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29E£14.54
$1.42COP 4,459
-79.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25E£12.65
$1.95COP 6,141
-87.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.96E£98.8
$7.89COP 24.8K
-75.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£16.72
$0.99COP 3,118
-66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KE£1.6M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
76.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7KE£1.8M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
36.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$19.44E£978
$83.0COP 261.4K
-76.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.34E£369
$9.70COP 30.5K
-24.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.74E£540
$23.52COP 74.1K
-54.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.66E£1,140
$25.26COP 79.5K
-10.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.81E£342
$3.95COP 12.4K
72.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.7E£4,765
$316COP 994.2K
-70.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,649E£133.3K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-55.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.88E£849
$60.0COP 188.9K
-71.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6E£3,096
$31.82COP 100.2K
93.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0E£4,277
$102COP 320.1K
-16.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.2E£2,577
$107COP 338.3K
-52.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$187E£9,427
$475COP 1.5M
-60.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101E£5,084
$374COP 1.2M
-72.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$305E£15.4K
$849COP 2.7M
-64.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178E£8,969
$719COP 2.3M
-75.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$792E£39.9K
$3,265COP 10.3M
-75.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$441E£22.2K
$1,441COP 4.5M
-69.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.33
13.43
73.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al `arish: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Al `arish and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Al `arish vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $193 per month, with Al `arish cheaper across the board.
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 `arish vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al `arish or Medellin?
Al `arish wins on cost – living expenses run 120% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al `arish the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al `arish and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $683 in Al `arish and $1,504 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al `arish compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $187 in Al `arish versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Al `arish or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Al `arish compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $455 per month in Al `arish versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al `arish or in Medellin?
At $455 in Al `arish versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al `arish but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al `arish the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Al `arish or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al `arish delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $455 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al `arish hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al `arish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.