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 $718 per month in Al Kut vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,115 per month in Al Kut vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,511 per month in Al Kut vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Al Kut is about 30% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Al Kut and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Al Kut 46% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97 IQD 5,200
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-35.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.91 IQD 32.6K
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-23.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 IQD 9,110
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-5.18%
Cappuccino
$2.60 IQD 3,407
$1.72 COP 5,600
51.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 IQD 518
$1.05 COP 3,420
-61.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 284
$0.77 COP 2,515
-71.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 IQD 3,714
$1.69 COP 5,488
68.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 IQD 3,680
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-11.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 IQD 1,806
$1.05 COP 3,423
31.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 IQD 1,047
$1.30 COP 4,236
-38.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 IQD 2,022
$1.40 COP 4,544
10.00%
Eggs
$1.60 IQD 2,089
$2.16 COP 7,047
-25.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.37 IQD 5,720
$4.39 COP 14.3K
-0.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.50 IQD 4,589
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-40.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 IQD 17.1K
$8.64 COP 28.1K
51.27%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 IQD 1,205
$2.28 COP 7,426
-59.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 IQD 1,319
$1.11 COP 3,604
-9.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 IQD 1,125
$1.53 COP 4,983
-43.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 IQD 970
$1.35 COP 4,410
-45.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 IQD 906
$1.13 COP 3,674
-38.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 IQD 879
$1.13 COP 3,692
-40.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 IQD 889
$0.85 COP 2,753
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 IQD 689
$0.91 COP 2,975
-41.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89 IQD 2,469
$2.34 COP 7,630
-19.23%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 IQD 2,431
$1.20 COP 3,909
55.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 IQD 2,706
$2.49 COP 8,104
-16.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 IQD 475
$0.84 COP 2,728
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.18 IQD 40.8K
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-23.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 IQD 3,082
$1.42 COP 4,623
65.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 IQD 1,952
$1.92 COP 6,235
-22.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 IQD 7,889
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-21.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.57 IQD 740
$0.99 COP 3,223
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K IQD 24.6M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
4.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K IQD 25.6M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-26.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.8 IQD 99.3K
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-6.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.77 IQD 23.3K
$9.95 COP 32.4K
78.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.68 IQD 45.4K
$24.18 COP 78.7K
43.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.39 IQD 49.0K
$25.08 COP 81.7K
49.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50 IQD 21.6K
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-13.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 IQD 9,820
$3.98 COP 13.0K
88.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 IQD 200.2K
$305 COP 993.5K
-49.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,299 IQD 4.3M
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-45.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84 IQD 35.1K
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-53.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.73 IQD 33.7K
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-20.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.3 IQD 80.3K
$101 COP 327.9K
-39.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.43 IQD 54.3K
$108 COP 350.8K
-61.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 IQD 315.0K
$477 COP 1.6M
-49.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 IQD 234.0K
$376 COP 1.2M
-52.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 IQD 759.1K
$845 COP 2.7M
-31.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 IQD 456.6K
$730 COP 2.4M
-52.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,019 IQD 1.3M
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-68.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$509 IQD 666.7K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-62.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 COP 2.0M
-
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Al Kut versus $477 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 $193 – 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 in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $718 in Al Kut, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 44% 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 $1,077 per month in Al Kut and $1,546 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 31% 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 $718, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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 $718 in Al Kut to $1,031 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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