🙂A single person spends $738 per month in Al Kut vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,140 per month in Al Kut vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,543 per month in Al Kut vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Al Kut is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Al Kut and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Al Kut45% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13IQD 5,412
$5.99COP 21.4K
-31.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.25IQD 33.1K
$32.86COP 117.4K
-23.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.02IQD 9,193
$7.09COP 25.3K
-0.99%
Cappuccino
$2.57IQD 3,364
$1.71COP 6,115
50.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 476
$1.10COP 3,924
-67.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 268
$0.78COP 2,781
-74.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.88IQD 3,768
$1.68COP 5,997
71.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82IQD 3,687
$3.07COP 11.0K
-8.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35IQD 1,773
$1.09COP 3,906
23.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77IQD 1,012
$1.26COP 4,508
-38.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55IQD 2,034
$1.38COP 4,922
12.32%
Eggs
$1.53IQD 2,004
$2.19COP 7,827
-30.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.62IQD 6,046
$4.40COP 15.7K
5.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.55IQD 4,654
$5.63COP 20.1K
-36.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98IQD 17.0K
$8.89COP 31.8K
46.01%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86IQD 1,124
$2.34COP 8,349
-63.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06IQD 1,385
$1.06COP 3,777
-
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81IQD 1,061
$1.50COP 5,374
-46.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 976
$1.38COP 4,924
-45.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 899
$1.15COP 4,111
-40.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68IQD 890
$1.16COP 4,155
-41.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62IQD 818
$0.89COP 3,182
-30.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 731
$0.84COP 2,997
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94IQD 2,535
$2.28COP 8,145
-14.91%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.64COP 38.0K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80IQD 2,354
$1.20COP 4,284
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16IQD 2,824
$2.47COP 8,824
-12.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39IQD 513
$0.86COP 3,056
-54.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.67IQD 40.2K
$41.40COP 147.9K
-25.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36IQD 3,088
$1.47COP 5,264
60.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55IQD 2,033
$1.96COP 7,009
-20.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.92IQD 7,748
$7.74COP 27.6K
-23.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.56IQD 737
$0.95COP 3,409
-41.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.2M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KIQD 26.4M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-23.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.5IQD 100.2K
$82.3COP 293.7K
-6.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.52IQD 22.9K
$9.50COP 33.9K
84.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.63IQD 45.3K
$24.23COP 86.5K
42.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.05IQD 47.2K
$25.89COP 92.4K
39.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.10IQD 22.4K
$19.00COP 67.9K
-10.00%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85IQD 10.3K
$3.93COP 14.0K
99.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149IQD 195.3K
$309COP 1.1M
-51.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,277IQD 4.3M
$5,965COP 21.3M
-45.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.28IQD 35.7K
$58.7COP 209.5K
-53.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.76IQD 32.4K
$32.35COP 115.5K
-23.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.9IQD 81.1K
$103COP 366.4K
-39.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.71IQD 54.6K
$108COP 387.2K
-61.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239IQD 313.1K
$476COP 1.7M
-49.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 236.9K
$379COP 1.4M
-52.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$570IQD 746.3K
$838COP 3.0M
-32.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348IQD 455.2K
$724COP 2.6M
-51.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$990IQD 1.3M
$2,791COP 10.0M
-64.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$509IQD 666.8K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-57.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
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 Kut: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Al Kut 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al Kut versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $188 – making Al Kut 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 Kut vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Al Kut and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $738 in Al Kut, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 37% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Al Kut compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,107 per month in Al Kut and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Al Kut and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Kut, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Al Kut and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al Kut, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Al Kut it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Al Kut and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $738 in Al Kut to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Al Kut and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Al Kut. 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.