Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $802 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,677 per month in Al Hillah vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al Hillah sits 42% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.76 IQD 6,238

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-40.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.94 IQD 40.5K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-35.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.22 IQD 8,147

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-33.97%

Cappuccino

$3.04 IQD 3,984

$2.94 COP 9,040

3.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 IQD 477

$1.86 COP 5,735

-80.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 261

$1.46 COP 4,479

-86.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 IQD 3,780

$3.21 COP 9,882

-9.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 IQD 5,145

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-31.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 IQD 1,407

$1.44 COP 4,428

-25.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 970

$2.40 COP 7,389

-69.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,062

$1.70 COP 5,228

-7.65%

Eggs

$1.86 IQD 2,434

$2.89 COP 8,896

-35.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 IQD 5,201

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-60.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 IQD 6,316

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-51.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 IQD 19.0K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

2.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 IQD 1,486

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-71.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,466

$1.58 COP 4,878

-29.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 IQD 1,380

$2.15 COP 6,624

-51.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 IQD 1,031

$2.30 COP 7,078

-65.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 934

$2.00 COP 6,169

-64.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 839

$1.51 COP 4,646

-57.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 IQD 732

$1.20 COP 3,701

-53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 720

$1.28 COP 3,946

-57.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 IQD 2,306

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-54.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.44 IQD 17.6K

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-4.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 IQD 2,793

$1.71 COP 5,256

24.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 IQD 2,968

$2.74 COP 8,440

-17.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 521

$1.25 COP 3,834

-68.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

$77.9 COP 239.7K

-15.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 IQD 3,025

$1.31 COP 4,016

76.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,021

$2.17 COP 6,680

-29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 IQD 4,439

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-59.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 710

$1.36 COP 4,172

-60.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-36.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-47.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.8 IQD 100.6K

$169 COP 519.2K

-54.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

12.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.47 IQD 49.1K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

32.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.76 IQD 29.8K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-50.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.21 IQD 25.2K

$17.22 COP 53.0K

11.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

17.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$95.1 IQD 124.5K

$803 COP 2.5M

-88.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$776 IQD 1.0M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-91.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.89 IQD 28.7K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-74.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.96 IQD 32.7K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-57.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 IQD 88.8K

$139 COP 427.5K

-51.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.44 IQD 60.8K

$102 COP 314.0K

-54.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 IQD 371.0K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-73.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.3K

$653 COP 2.0M

-72.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 IQD 645.0K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-74.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$290 IQD 379.3K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-72.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,725 IQD 2.3M

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-58.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 735.6K

$1,697 COP 5.2M

-66.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 IQD 666.8K

$655 COP 2.0M

-22.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

10.94

-62.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Hillah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Al Hillah versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $300 – making Al Hillah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hillah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 105%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,203 per month in Al Hillah and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $95.1 per month in Al Hillah and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $802, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Al Hillah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.