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 $810 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Al Hillah and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 IQD 7,132

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-11.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-4.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 IQD 8,019

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-16.62%

Cappuccino

$3.06 IQD 4,005

$1.72 COP 5,600

77.91%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$1.05 COP 3,420

-61.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 242

$0.77 COP 2,515

-76.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 IQD 3,833

$1.69 COP 5,488

73.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 IQD 3,793

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-8.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,800

$1.05 COP 3,423

30.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 963

$1.30 COP 4,236

-43.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 IQD 2,156

$1.40 COP 4,544

17.86%

Eggs

$1.80 IQD 2,359

$2.16 COP 7,047

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 IQD 5,874

$4.39 COP 14.3K

2.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,290

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-18.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.01 IQD 18.3K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

62.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 IQD 1,607

$2.28 COP 7,426

-46.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 IQD 1,564

$1.11 COP 3,604

7.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 IQD 1,368

$1.53 COP 4,983

-32.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 899

$1.35 COP 4,410

-48.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 863

$1.13 COP 3,674

-41.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 820

$1.13 COP 3,692

-44.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 778

$0.85 COP 2,753

-30.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 721

$0.91 COP 2,975

-39.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 IQD 2,485

$2.34 COP 7,630

-18.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.82 IQD 18.1K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

11.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,415

$1.20 COP 3,909

53.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 IQD 2,840

$2.49 COP 8,104

-12.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 520

$0.84 COP 2,728

-52.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 IQD 85.6K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

61.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,092

$1.42 COP 4,623

66.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,031

$1.92 COP 6,235

-19.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 IQD 4,414

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-56.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 703

$0.99 COP 3,223

-45.45%

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

$17.4K IQD 22.8M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-3.38%

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

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-23.87%

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

$75.8 IQD 99.3K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-6.16%

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

$15.12 IQD 19.8K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

51.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.00 IQD 51.1K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

61.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.41 IQD 30.7K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-6.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 IQD 25.1K

$19.15 COP 62.3K

0.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

$3.98 COP 13.0K

95.23%

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

$95.6 IQD 125.2K

$305 COP 993.5K

-68.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$779 IQD 1.0M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-87.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.22 IQD 35.6K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-53.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.73 IQD 36.3K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-13.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 IQD 80.7K

$101 COP 327.9K

-38.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$108 COP 350.8K

-59.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 IQD 476.8K

$477 COP 1.6M

-23.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.8K

$376 COP 1.2M

-47.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 IQD 874.0K

$845 COP 2.7M

-20.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 IQD 410.0K

$730 COP 2.4M

-57.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 IQD 2.3M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-45.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$545 IQD 713.5K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-60.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 IQD 677.5K

$617 COP 2.0M

-16.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

13.43

-57.78%

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

Last update for Al Hillah: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Al Hillah versus $477 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 19% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $193 – 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 27%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,215 per month in Al Hillah and $1,546 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 61% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $95.6 per month in Al Hillah and $305 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 $810, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.