🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Al Kufah versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,052 in Al Kufah versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,425 in Al Kufah versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Al Kufah costs roughly 34% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Kufah49% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28IQD 6,918
$5.92COP 21.5K
-10.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.99IQD 47.1K
$32.75COP 119.1K
9.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.69IQD 10.1K
$7.20COP 26.2K
6.81%
Cappuccino
$3.11IQD 4,078
$1.70COP 6,186
82.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 516
$1.10COP 3,996
-64.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 262
$0.72COP 2,625
-72.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35IQD 4,391
$1.67COP 6,067
100.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95IQD 3,860
$3.10COP 11.3K
-4.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11IQD 1,456
$1.06COP 3,837
4.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61IQD 794
$1.25COP 4,531
-51.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64IQD 2,151
$1.39COP 5,060
17.99%
Eggs
$1.78IQD 2,333
$2.26COP 8,229
-21.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.32IQD 3,035
$4.33COP 15.8K
-46.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.04IQD 3,982
$5.84COP 21.2K
-47.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.75IQD 12.8K
$8.83COP 32.1K
10.42%
Apples(1kg)
$0.52IQD 686
$2.24COP 8,159
-76.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.99IQD 1,291
$1.08COP 3,911
-8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67IQD 882
$1.53COP 5,563
-56.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49IQD 643
$1.37COP 4,987
-64.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38IQD 492
$1.13COP 4,109
-66.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31IQD 403
$1.12COP 4,067
-72.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66IQD 867
$0.85COP 3,080
-22.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45IQD 586
$0.91COP 3,305
-50.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01IQD 2,633
$2.33COP 8,477
-13.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.79IQD 18.1K
$11.13COP 40.5K
23.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80IQD 2,353
$1.19COP 4,342
51.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08IQD 2,719
$2.37COP 8,617
-12.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35IQD 458
$0.79COP 2,859
-55.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.80IQD 40.3K
$41.13COP 149.6K
-25.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36IQD 3,089
$1.44COP 5,223
63.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,021
$1.91COP 6,952
-19.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.63IQD 9,991
$8.02COP 29.2K
-4.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54IQD 711
$0.94COP 3,410
-42.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KIQD 25.9M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
10.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KIQD 26.0M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-25.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.64IQD 53.2K
$84.0COP 305.4K
-51.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.83IQD 33.8K
$9.60COP 34.9K
169.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.68IQD 29.7K
$24.16COP 87.9K
-6.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.24IQD 33.1K
$25.88COP 94.1K
-2.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.58IQD 21.7K
$19.04COP 69.3K
-12.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46IQD 9,770
$3.92COP 14.2K
90.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$88.3IQD 115.7K
$306COP 1.1M
-71.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,403IQD 3.1M
$5,919COP 21.5M
-59.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.19IQD 27.8K
$57.9COP 210.6K
-63.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.53IQD 40.0K
$31.82COP 115.7K
-4.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$19.61IQD 25.7K
$99.9COP 363.3K
-80.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.02IQD 36.7K
$107COP 389.7K
-73.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214IQD 280.1K
$487COP 1.8M
-56.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 237.3K
$368COP 1.3M
-50.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432IQD 566.3K
$826COP 3.0M
-47.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287IQD 376.5K
$716COP 2.6M
-59.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265IQD 4.3M
$2,925COP 10.6M
11.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,674IQD 2.2M
$1,407COP 5.1M
19.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$768IQD 1.0M
$546COP 2.0M
40.85%
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 Kufah: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Al Kufah and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Kufah pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Al Kufah vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $146 vs $190, with Al Kufah cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kufah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al Kufah?
Al Kufah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Al Kufah or Medellin?
Al Kufah pays 41% 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 Kufah and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Al Kufah versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Kufah or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Kufah – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Al Kufah vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $679 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al Kufah or Medellin?
At $679 in Al Kufah versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Kufah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al Kufah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al Kufah or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Al Kufah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al Kufah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.