🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $127 in Al Budayyi versus $1,687 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $137 in Al Budayyi versus $2,535 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $148 in Al Budayyi versus $3,383 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al Budayyi costs roughly 92% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Budayyi is 91% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$7.89COP 24.2K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$44.53COP 136.5K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.29COP 28.5K
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.90COP 8,874
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81COP 5,541
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55COP 4,741
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.25COP 9,962
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.88COP 18.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.38COP 4,230
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.45COP 7,517
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.51COP 4,617
-
Eggs
-
$2.78COP 8,516
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$9.05COP 27.7K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$10.65COP 32.6K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.63COP 44.8K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.97COP 12.2K
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.38COP 4,219
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.30COP 7,056
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.02COP 6,185
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.09COP 6,390
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.63COP 4,996
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.08COP 3,313
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.25COP 3,843
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.03COP 12.4K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$13.47COP 41.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.60COP 4,904
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.00COP 9,189
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.18COP 3,611
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.61COP 4,920
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.13COP 6,533
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.52COP 26.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.35COP 4,142
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$151COP 463.8K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.49BHD 7.35
$13.10COP 40.1K
48.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$108BHD 40.62
$32.30COP 99.0K
233.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$46.33COP 141.9K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.43COP 19.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$835COP 2.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,887COP 27.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$89.3COP 273.7K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$55.3COP 169.5K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$137COP 418.5K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$109COP 335.1K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$952COP 2.9M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$668COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,148COP 3.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Budayyi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$625COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
10.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Budayyi: August 18, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
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 Budayyi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Budayyi or Medellin?
Al Budayyi wins on cost – living expenses run 1227% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Budayyi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al Budayyi and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $191 in Al Budayyi and $2,530 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al Budayyi or in Medellin?
At $127 in Al Budayyi versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Budayyi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al Budayyi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Al Budayyi or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al Budayyi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $127 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al Budayyi hard to pass up.
How safe is Al Budayyi compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Al Budayyi and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Budayyi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1227% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Budayyi vs other spots: cost of living compared