Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Kut and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Kut and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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 Kut 45% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13 IQD 5,412
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-31.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.25 IQD 33.1K
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-23.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 IQD 9,193
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-0.99%
Cappuccino
$2.57 IQD 3,364
$1.71 COP 6,115
50.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 IQD 476
$1.10 COP 3,924
-67.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 IQD 268
$0.78 COP 2,781
-74.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 IQD 3,768
$1.68 COP 5,997
71.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 IQD 3,687
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-8.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 IQD 1,773
$1.09 COP 3,906
23.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 IQD 1,012
$1.26 COP 4,508
-38.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 IQD 2,034
$1.38 COP 4,922
12.32%
Eggs
$1.53 IQD 2,004
$2.19 COP 7,827
-30.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.62 IQD 6,046
$4.40 COP 15.7K
5.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 IQD 4,654
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-36.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.98 IQD 17.0K
$8.89 COP 31.8K
46.01%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 IQD 1,124
$2.34 COP 8,349
-63.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 IQD 1,385
$1.06 COP 3,777
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 IQD 1,061
$1.50 COP 5,374
-46.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 IQD 976
$1.38 COP 4,924
-45.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 IQD 899
$1.15 COP 4,111
-40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 IQD 890
$1.16 COP 4,155
-41.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 IQD 818
$0.89 COP 3,182
-30.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 IQD 731
$0.84 COP 2,997
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 IQD 2,535
$2.28 COP 8,145
-14.91%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 IQD 2,354
$1.20 COP 4,284
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 IQD 2,824
$2.47 COP 8,824
-12.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 IQD 513
$0.86 COP 3,056
-54.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.67 IQD 40.2K
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-25.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.36 IQD 3,088
$1.47 COP 5,264
60.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 IQD 2,033
$1.96 COP 7,009
-20.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.92 IQD 7,748
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-23.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.56 IQD 737
$0.95 COP 3,409
-41.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K IQD 25.2M
$18.1K COP 64.7M
5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K IQD 26.4M
$26.5K COP 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)
$76.5 IQD 100.2K
$82.3 COP 293.7K
-6.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.52 IQD 22.9K
$9.50 COP 33.9K
84.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.63 IQD 45.3K
$24.23 COP 86.5K
42.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.05 IQD 47.2K
$25.89 COP 92.4K
39.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.10 IQD 22.4K
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-10.00%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 IQD 10.3K
$3.93 COP 14.0K
99.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$149 IQD 195.3K
$309 COP 1.1M
-51.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,277 IQD 4.3M
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-45.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.28 IQD 35.7K
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-53.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.76 IQD 32.4K
$32.35 COP 115.5K
-23.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.9 IQD 81.1K
$103 COP 366.4K
-39.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.71 IQD 54.6K
$108 COP 387.2K
-61.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 IQD 313.1K
$476 COP 1.7M
-49.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 IQD 236.9K
$379 COP 1.4M
-52.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$570 IQD 746.3K
$838 COP 3.0M
-32.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 IQD 455.2K
$724 COP 2.6M
-51.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$990 IQD 1.3M
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-64.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$509 IQD 666.8K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-57.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$512 COP 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.

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