😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,763 in Al Hidd versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,190 in Al Hidd versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,616 in Al Hidd versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Al Hidd is roughly 71% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Hidd is 32% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57BHD 2.47
$5.92COP 21.4K
10.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.43BHD 14.83
$32.75COP 118.2K
20.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.41BHD 2.78
$7.20COP 26.0K
2.92%
Cappuccino
$2.68BHD 1.01
$1.70COP 6,140
57.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81BHD 0.31
$1.10COP 3,966
-26.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14BHD 0.05
$0.72COP 2,605
-80.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.88BHD 2.96
$1.67COP 6,022
371.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.55BHD 3.97
$3.10COP 11.2K
240.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72BHD 0.65
$1.06COP 3,809
62.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28BHD 0.48
$1.25COP 4,497
2.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31BHD 0.87
$1.39COP 5,022
66.19%
Eggs
$2.42BHD 0.91
$2.26COP 8,168
7.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54BHD 3.21
$4.33COP 15.6K
97.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.57BHD 2.85
$5.84COP 21.1K
29.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.37BHD 3.90
$8.83COP 31.9K
17.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45BHD 0.92
$2.24COP 8,099
9.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05BHD 0.77
$1.08COP 3,882
89.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77BHD 0.66
$1.53COP 5,522
15.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21BHD 0.45
$1.37COP 4,950
-11.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90BHD 0.34
$1.13COP 4,078
-20.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07BHD 0.40
$1.12COP 4,036
-4.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46BHD 0.55
$0.85COP 3,057
71.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94BHD 0.35
$0.91COP 3,281
3.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46BHD 2.43
$2.33COP 8,414
177.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.73BHD 7.04
$11.13COP 40.2K
68.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35BHD 1.26
$1.19COP 4,309
181.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18BHD 1.19
$2.37COP 8,553
34.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58BHD 0.59
$0.79COP 2,838
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.9BHD 19.89
$41.13COP 148.5K
28.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.62BHD 1.74
$1.44COP 5,184
220.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.01BHD 1.51
$1.91COP 6,901
109.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.01BHD 9.78
$8.02COP 28.9K
224.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38BHD 0.14
$0.94COP 3,385
-59.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KBHD 7,565
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
12.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8KBHD 7,825
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-22.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122BHD 45.81
$84.0COP 303.1K
45.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.79BHD 10.07
$9.60COP 34.7K
179.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.28BHD 14.39
$24.16COP 87.2K
58.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.88COP 93.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.5BHD 20.13
$19.04COP 68.7K
181.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.79BHD 4.06
$3.92COP 14.1K
175.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$386BHD 145
$306COP 1.1M
26.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,104BHD 3,423
$5,919COP 21.4M
53.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.87BHD 17.62
$57.9COP 209.1K
-19.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4BHD 23.46
$31.82COP 114.9K
96.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.1BHD 30.88
$99.9COP 360.6K
-17.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0BHD 33.07
$107COP 386.8K
-17.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$672BHD 253
$487COP 1.8M
38.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$933BHD 351
$368COP 1.3M
153.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$795BHD 299
$826COP 3.0M
-3.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$810BHD 304
$716COP 2.6M
13.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hidd
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,937BHD 728
$546COP 2.0M
255.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.56
13.43
-36.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Hidd: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $672 in Al Hidd and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Hidd pays 255% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Al Hidd vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $190 per month, with Medellin 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 Hidd vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al Hidd?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Al Hidd or Medellin?
Al Hidd pays 255% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Al Hidd and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $672 in Al Hidd versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 29% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $386 in Al Hidd versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al Hidd or Medellin?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,763 in Al Hidd, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Al Hidd. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al Hidd or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Al Hidd, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Al Hidd or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Al Hidd 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.