🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $466 in Al `arish versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $729 in Al `arish versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $993 in Al `arish versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Al `arish costs roughly 54% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al `arish65% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06E£208
$5.95COP 20.8K
-31.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.87E£708
$33.33COP 116.3K
-58.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.37E£274
$7.23COP 25.2K
-25.73%
Cappuccino
$1.45E£74.2
$1.63COP 5,687
-11.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42E£21.28
$1.09COP 3,821
-61.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.12E£6.28
$0.73COP 2,548
-83.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30E£66.4
$1.74COP 6,065
-25.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93E£98.4
$3.23COP 11.3K
-40.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97E£49.79
$1.05COP 3,662
-7.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47E£23.89
$1.29COP 4,515
-63.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72E£36.71
$1.32COP 4,617
-45.45%
Eggs
$1.57E£80.0
$2.27COP 7,927
-30.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.96E£100
$4.35COP 15.2K
-54.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.16E£213
$5.88COP 20.5K
-29.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.30E£424
$8.61COP 30.0K
-3.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45E£74.2
$2.25COP 7,844
-35.56%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60E£30.75
$1.07COP 3,733
-43.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.38E£19.49
$1.52COP 5,322
-75.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37E£18.84
$1.42COP 4,964
-73.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.50E£25.67
$1.17COP 4,084
-57.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50E£25.49
$1.17COP 4,077
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.27E£13.72
$0.89COP 3,096
-69.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17E£8.59
$0.90COP 3,146
-81.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89E£96.7
$2.25COP 7,837
-16.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.27E£218
$11.04COP 38.5K
-61.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47E£75.1
$1.14COP 3,977
28.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64E£83.9
$2.38COP 8,301
-31.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16E£8.32
$0.84COP 2,916
-80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31E£15.87
$1.41COP 4,912
-78.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23E£11.74
$1.90COP 6,634
-87.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.96E£99.9
$7.75COP 27.0K
-74.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£17.08
$1.01COP 3,509
-67.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KE£1.6M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
74.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KE£1.9M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
36.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$19.68E£1,005
$83.7COP 292.1K
-76.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.27E£371
$9.45COP 33.0K
-23.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63E£543
$24.11COP 84.1K
-55.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.07E£1,127
$25.31COP 88.3K
-12.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.87E£351
$4.10COP 14.3K
67.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.0E£4,954
$312COP 1.1M
-68.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,599E£132.7K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-56.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.96E£866
$58.0COP 202.6K
-70.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.0E£3,166
$32.56COP 113.6K
90.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.3E£4,252
$99.6COP 347.7K
-16.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.3E£2,567
$109COP 378.8K
-53.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192E£9,793
$482COP 1.7M
-60.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101E£5,136
$379COP 1.3M
-73.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$304E£15.5K
$837COP 2.9M
-63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178E£9,114
$723COP 2.5M
-75.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$871E£44.5K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-69.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$462E£23.6K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-62.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al `arish
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Al `arish and $482 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 $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 118% 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 $698 in Al `arish and $1,525 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: $192 in Al `arish versus $482 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 66% 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 $466 per month in Al `arish versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 118% 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 $466 in Al `arish versus $1,017 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 $466 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 118% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.