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 $819 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,263 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,708 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Al Hillah is about 19% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 IQD 6,917

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-11.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.53 IQD 40.0K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-7.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.00 IQD 7,851

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-15.37%

Cappuccino

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$1.71 COP 6,115

81.87%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$1.10 COP 3,924

-63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 IQD 265

$0.78 COP 2,781

-74.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 IQD 3,896

$1.68 COP 5,997

76.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 IQD 3,706

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-7.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 IQD 1,713

$1.09 COP 3,906

20.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 IQD 967

$1.26 COP 4,508

-41.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 IQD 2,151

$1.38 COP 4,922

18.84%

Eggs

$1.74 IQD 2,280

$2.19 COP 7,827

-20.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 IQD 5,733

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 IQD 6,623

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-10.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 IQD 18.3K

$8.89 COP 31.8K

57.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,673

$2.34 COP 8,349

-45.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,516

$1.06 COP 3,777

9.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,385

$1.50 COP 5,374

-29.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$1.38 COP 4,924

-49.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 862

$1.15 COP 4,111

-42.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 890

$1.16 COP 4,155

-41.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 IQD 720

$0.89 COP 3,182

-38.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 IQD 722

$0.84 COP 2,997

-34.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 IQD 2,552

$2.28 COP 8,145

-14.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 IQD 17.8K

$10.64 COP 38.0K

27.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 IQD 2,300

$1.20 COP 4,284

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 IQD 2,863

$2.47 COP 8,824

-11.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.86 COP 3,056

-53.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 IQD 83.6K

$41.40 COP 147.9K

54.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 IQD 2,957

$1.47 COP 5,264

53.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,016

$1.96 COP 7,009

-21.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 IQD 4,358

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-56.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 689

$0.95 COP 3,409

-44.21%

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

$17.0K IQD 22.2M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

-6.32%

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

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-24.24%

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

$76.0 IQD 99.6K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-7.56%

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

$15.24 IQD 20.0K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

60.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.99 IQD 49.8K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

56.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.35 IQD 30.6K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-9.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 IQD 25.4K

$19.00 COP 67.9K

1.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$3.93 COP 14.0K

92.11%

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

$96.5 IQD 126.4K

$309 COP 1.1M

-68.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$754 IQD 986.7K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-87.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-53.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 IQD 36.4K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-13.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 IQD 80.1K

$103 COP 366.4K

-40.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.90 IQD 57.5K

$108 COP 387.2K

-59.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 IQD 494.8K

$476 COP 1.7M

-20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 IQD 249.6K

$379 COP 1.4M

-49.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 IQD 867.5K

$838 COP 3.0M

-20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 IQD 422.1K

$724 COP 2.6M

-55.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,702 IQD 2.2M

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-39.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$562 IQD 736.0K

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-53.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$515 IQD 674.7K

$512 COP 1.8M

0.68%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $378 in Al Hillah versus $476 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 1% higher in Al Hillah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $188 – 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 24%, 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 $1,228 per month in Al Hillah and $1,519 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 54% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $96.5 per month in Al Hillah and $309 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 $819, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.