🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $671 in Al Kufah versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Al Kufah versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,411 in Al Kufah versus $2,188 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, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.45IQD 7,133
$5.95COP 20.8K
-8.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.38IQD 47.6K
$33.33COP 116.3K
9.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.60IQD 9,956
$7.23COP 25.2K
5.12%
Cappuccino
$2.94IQD 3,856
$1.63COP 5,687
80.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 519
$1.09COP 3,821
-63.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 233
$0.73COP 2,548
-75.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52IQD 4,604
$1.74COP 6,065
102.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89IQD 3,784
$3.23COP 11.3K
-10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11IQD 1,459
$1.05COP 3,662
5.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66IQD 865
$1.29COP 4,515
-48.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65IQD 2,166
$1.32COP 4,617
25.00%
Eggs
$1.71IQD 2,236
$2.27COP 7,927
-24.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.22IQD 2,910
$4.35COP 15.2K
-48.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03IQD 3,963
$5.88COP 20.5K
-48.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.21IQD 13.4K
$8.61COP 30.0K
18.58%
Apples(1kg)
$0.49IQD 637
$2.25COP 7,844
-78.22%
Banana(1kg)
$0.96IQD 1,261
$1.07COP 3,733
-10.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68IQD 891
$1.52COP 5,322
-55.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.46IQD 607
$1.42COP 4,964
-67.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40IQD 530
$1.17COP 4,084
-65.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34IQD 439
$1.17COP 4,077
-70.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63IQD 824
$0.89COP 3,096
-29.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45IQD 586
$0.90COP 3,146
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03IQD 2,662
$2.25COP 7,837
-9.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.53IQD 17.7K
$11.04COP 38.5K
22.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76IQD 2,310
$1.14COP 3,977
54.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11IQD 2,759
$2.38COP 8,301
-11.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37IQD 489
$0.84COP 2,916
-55.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.49IQD 41.2K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-24.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32IQD 3,041
$1.41COP 4,912
64.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,018
$1.90COP 6,634
-18.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.47IQD 9,783
$7.75COP 27.0K
-3.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53IQD 697
$1.01COP 3,509
-47.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
15.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-23.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.56IQD 53.1K
$83.7COP 292.1K
-51.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.38IQD 34.5K
$9.45COP 33.0K
179.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.19IQD 30.4K
$24.11COP 84.1K
-3.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.04IQD 34.1K
$25.31COP 88.3K
2.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.05IQD 22.3K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-10.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.62IQD 9,982
$4.10COP 14.3K
85.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$86.3IQD 113.0K
$312COP 1.1M
-72.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,370IQD 3.1M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-60.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.20IQD 27.8K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-63.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.55IQD 38.7K
$32.56COP 113.6K
-9.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$20.10IQD 26.3K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-79.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.59IQD 36.1K
$109COP 378.8K
-74.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213IQD 278.8K
$482COP 1.7M
-55.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175IQD 229.4K
$379COP 1.3M
-53.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427IQD 558.7K
$837COP 2.9M
-49.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295IQD 386.1K
$723COP 2.5M
-59.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,258IQD 4.3M
$2,840COP 9.9M
14.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,677IQD 2.2M
$1,223COP 4.3M
37.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kufah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$769IQD 1.0M
$541COP 1.9M
42.14%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Al Kufah and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Kufah pays 42% 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 $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 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Al Kufah or Medellin?
Al Kufah pays 42% 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: $213 in Al Kufah versus $482 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 $671 per month in Al Kufah versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 51% 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 $671 in Al Kufah versus $1,017 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 51% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.