🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $462 in Al `arish versus $1,030 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Al `arish versus $1,586 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 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 `arish65% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87E£204
$5.92COP 21.1K
-34.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.03E£738
$33.17COP 118.3K
-57.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.48E£288
$7.25COP 25.9K
-24.41%
Cappuccino
$1.41E£74.0
$1.71COP 6,118
-17.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41E£21.62
$1.09COP 3,903
-62.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15E£7.82
$0.77COP 2,734
-80.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27E£66.6
$1.75COP 6,234
-27.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94E£102
$3.18COP 11.4K
-38.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93E£48.84
$1.06COP 3,780
-12.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47E£24.59
$1.30COP 4,643
-63.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71E£37.09
$1.38COP 4,911
-48.55%
Eggs
$1.49E£78.3
$2.21COP 7,883
-32.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.98E£104
$4.52COP 16.1K
-56.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.09E£215
$5.80COP 20.7K
-29.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.27E£435
$8.97COP 32.0K
-7.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46E£76.6
$2.29COP 8,157
-36.24%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60E£31.43
$1.06COP 3,779
-43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.38E£20.11
$1.51COP 5,394
-74.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.40E£20.85
$1.36COP 4,854
-70.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50E£26.37
$1.16COP 4,133
-56.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53E£27.71
$1.17COP 4,161
-54.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.29E£15.45
$0.83COP 2,951
-65.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.15E£8.09
$0.85COP 3,034
-82.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97E£104
$2.35COP 8,397
-16.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.29E£226
$11.09COP 39.6K
-61.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45E£76.0
$1.15COP 4,120
26.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65E£87.0
$2.47COP 8,826
-33.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17E£9.01
$0.79COP 2,818
-78.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COP 149.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31E£16.46
$1.44COP 5,124
-78.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23E£12.03
$1.90COP 6,772
-87.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.93E£101
$7.70COP 27.5K
-74.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£17.36
$1.03COP 3,669
-67.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KE£1.6M
$17.7KCOP 63.1M
70.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KE£1.9M
$27.0KCOP 96.4M
32.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$19.29E£1,015
$81.4COP 290.5K
-76.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.42E£390
$9.42COP 33.6K
-21.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.77E£567
$23.77COP 84.8K
-54.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.96E£1,155
$25.86COP 92.3K
-15.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COP 69.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.75E£355
$4.05COP 14.5K
66.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.2E£5,114
$312COP 1.1M
-68.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,652E£139.5K
$6,067COP 21.6M
-56.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.46E£918
$58.9COP 210.0K
-70.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3E£3,279
$32.82COP 117.1K
89.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5E£4,392
$100COP 358.5K
-16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.8E£2,725
$106COP 379.2K
-51.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191E£10.1K
$490COP 1.7M
-60.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.0E£5,209
$371COP 1.3M
-73.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$309E£16.3K
$838COP 3.0M
-63.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178E£9,340
$715COP 2.6M
-75.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$748E£39.4K
$2,952COP 10.5M
-74.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$397E£20.9K
$1,394COP 5.0M
-71.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$532COP 1.9M
-
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $191 in Al `arish and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14 in Al `arish vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $113 vs $190 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 123% 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 vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $694 in Al `arish and $1,544 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $191 in Al `arish versus $490 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 Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% 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 $462 per month in Al `arish versus $1,030 in Medellin – a 123% 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 Medellin?
At $462 in Al `arish versus $1,030 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 $462 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 123% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.