🙂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 Kut46% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.97IQD 5,200
$6.16COP 20.1K
-35.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.91IQD 32.6K
$32.60COP 106.1K
-23.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.96IQD 9,110
$7.34COP 23.9K
-5.18%
Cappuccino
$2.60IQD 3,407
$1.72COP 5,600
51.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 518
$1.05COP 3,420
-61.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 284
$0.77COP 2,515
-71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84IQD 3,714
$1.69COP 5,488
68.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81IQD 3,680
$3.17COP 10.3K
-11.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38IQD 1,806
$1.05COP 3,423
31.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80IQD 1,047
$1.30COP 4,236
-38.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54IQD 2,022
$1.40COP 4,544
10.00%
Eggs
$1.60IQD 2,089
$2.16COP 7,047
-25.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.37IQD 5,720
$4.39COP 14.3K
-0.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.50IQD 4,589
$5.88COP 19.1K
-40.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.07IQD 17.1K
$8.64COP 28.1K
51.27%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92IQD 1,205
$2.28COP 7,426
-59.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,319
$1.11COP 3,604
-9.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86IQD 1,125
$1.53COP 4,983
-43.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74IQD 970
$1.35COP 4,410
-45.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 906
$1.13COP 3,674
-38.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 879
$1.13COP 3,692
-40.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68IQD 889
$0.85COP 2,753
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53IQD 689
$0.91COP 2,975
-41.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89IQD 2,469
$2.34COP 7,630
-19.23%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86IQD 2,431
$1.20COP 3,909
55.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07IQD 2,706
$2.49COP 8,104
-16.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 475
$0.84COP 2,728
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.18IQD 40.8K
$40.57COP 132.1K
-23.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35IQD 3,082
$1.42COP 4,623
65.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49IQD 1,952
$1.92COP 6,235
-22.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02IQD 7,889
$7.66COP 24.9K
-21.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 740
$0.99COP 3,223
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KIQD 24.6M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
4.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.6M
$26.6KCOP 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)
$75.8IQD 99.3K
$80.8COP 263.1K
-6.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.77IQD 23.3K
$9.95COP 32.4K
78.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.68IQD 45.4K
$24.18COP 78.7K
43.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.39IQD 49.0K
$25.08COP 81.7K
49.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50IQD 21.6K
$19.15COP 62.3K
-13.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50IQD 9,820
$3.98COP 13.0K
88.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153IQD 200.2K
$305COP 993.5K
-49.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,299IQD 4.3M
$6,059COP 19.7M
-45.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.84IQD 35.1K
$58.1COP 189.2K
-53.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.73IQD 33.7K
$32.20COP 104.8K
-20.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.3IQD 80.3K
$101COP 327.9K
-39.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.43IQD 54.3K
$108COP 350.8K
-61.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241IQD 315.0K
$477COP 1.6M
-49.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179IQD 234.0K
$376COP 1.2M
-52.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580IQD 759.1K
$845COP 2.7M
-31.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349IQD 456.6K
$730COP 2.4M
-52.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,019IQD 1.3M
$3,215COP 10.5M
-68.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$509IQD 666.7K
$1,372COP 4.5M
-62.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Kut
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 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.