🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $667 in Al Kufah versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,063 in Al Kufah versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,460 in Al Kufah versus $2,143 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 Kufah50% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.30IQD 6,938
$5.91COP 18.6K
-10.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.29IQD 47.5K
$32.96COP 103.8K
10.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.45IQD 9,759
$7.43COP 23.4K
0.27%
Cappuccino
$2.96IQD 3,871
$1.65COP 5,207
79.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 476
$1.10COP 3,468
-67.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19IQD 244
$0.78COP 2,458
-75.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50IQD 4,580
$1.72COP 5,412
103.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88IQD 3,773
$3.18COP 10.0K
-9.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12IQD 1,470
$1.10COP 3,474
1.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61IQD 801
$1.26COP 3,962
-51.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60IQD 2,096
$1.38COP 4,349
15.94%
Eggs
$1.75IQD 2,290
$2.18COP 6,858
-19.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.30IQD 3,017
$4.49COP 14.1K
-48.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.96IQD 3,882
$5.79COP 18.2K
-48.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08IQD 13.2K
$8.97COP 28.2K
12.37%
Apples(1kg)
$0.48IQD 632
$2.32COP 7,308
-79.31%
Banana(1kg)
$0.94IQD 1,226
$1.06COP 3,352
-11.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68IQD 885
$1.52COP 4,774
-55.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50IQD 655
$1.36COP 4,270
-63.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.37IQD 488
$1.13COP 3,552
-67.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31IQD 402
$1.17COP 3,689
-73.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63IQD 829
$0.90COP 2,838
-30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45IQD 589
$0.90COP 2,823
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98IQD 2,588
$2.23COP 7,034
-11.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.68IQD 17.9K
$12.12COP 38.2K
12.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86IQD 2,439
$1.19COP 3,743
56.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12IQD 2,772
$2.48COP 7,815
-14.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38IQD 495
$0.85COP 2,687
-55.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.80IQD 40.3K
$41.62COP 131.0K
-26.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25IQD 2,941
$1.42COP 4,459
58.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49IQD 1,949
$1.95COP 6,141
-23.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.80IQD 10.2K
$7.89COP 24.8K
-1.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50IQD 661
$0.99COP 3,118
-49.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KIQD 26.5M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
14.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7KIQD 25.8M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-26.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.44IQD 52.9K
$83.0COP 261.4K
-51.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.03IQD 34.1K
$9.70COP 30.5K
168.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.39IQD 30.6K
$23.52COP 74.1K
-0.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.75IQD 33.7K
$25.26COP 79.5K
1.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14IQD 22.4K
$19.10COP 60.1K
-10.26%
Cinema Ticket
$7.49IQD 9,804
$3.95COP 12.4K
89.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$86.2IQD 112.9K
$316COP 994.2K
-72.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,396IQD 3.1M
$5,975COP 18.8M
-59.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.08IQD 27.6K
$60.0COP 188.9K
-64.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.78IQD 39.0K
$31.82COP 100.2K
-6.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$19.61IQD 25.7K
$102COP 320.1K
-80.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.17IQD 35.6K
$107COP 338.3K
-74.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214IQD 280.1K
$475COP 1.5M
-54.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176IQD 230.6K
$374COP 1.2M
-52.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423IQD 553.3K
$849COP 2.7M
-50.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295IQD 385.7K
$719COP 2.3M
-59.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,317IQD 1.7M
$3,265COP 10.3M
-59.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$383IQD 502.0K
$1,441COP 4.5M
-73.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,031IQD 1.3M
$624COP 2.0M
65.08%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Al Kufah and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Kufah pays 65% 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 $147 vs $193, 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 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Al Kufah or Medellin?
Average pay runs 65% higher in Al Kufah, 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 $475 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $667 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Kufah or in Medellin?
At $667 in Al Kufah versus $1,003 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 50% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.