🙂A single person spends $815 per month in Al Mafraq vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,378 per month in Al Mafraq vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,941 per month in Al Mafraq vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Al Mafraq is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Al Mafraq sits 40% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.07JOD 5.00
$8.02COP 25.3K
-11.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.8JOD 47.30
$47.87COP 151.0K
39.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.89JOD 4.88
$9.89COP 31.2K
-30.33%
Cappuccino
$4.39JOD 3.11
$3.13COP 9,873
40.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$1.91COP 6,019
-65.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60JOD 0.42
$1.51COP 4,763
-60.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.50JOD 6.02
$3.12COP 9,853
172.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.14JOD 7.89
$5.75COP 18.1K
93.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43JOD 1.01
$1.44COP 4,558
-0.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66JOD 0.46
$2.49COP 7,843
-73.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53JOD 1.08
$1.77COP 5,595
-13.56%
Eggs
$2.38JOD 1.68
$2.96COP 9,336
-19.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.55JOD 6.76
$10.07COP 31.8K
-5.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.60JOD 4.67
$10.12COP 31.9K
-34.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78JOD 9.05
$14.30COP 45.1K
-10.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46JOD 1.74
$4.14COP 13.0K
-40.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03JOD 1.44
$1.61COP 5,073
26.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83JOD 1.29
$2.25COP 7,083
-18.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85JOD 0.60
$2.25COP 7,104
-62.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93JOD 0.66
$2.04COP 6,444
-54.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91JOD 0.64
$1.54COP 4,842
-40.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$1.17COP 3,691
-44.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66JOD 0.46
$1.31COP 4,121
-49.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92JOD 2.77
$3.90COP 12.3K
0.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.25JOD 15.04
$14.01COP 44.2K
51.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.01JOD 3.54
$1.74COP 5,498
187.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22JOD 3.70
$2.87COP 9,053
81.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$1.31COP 4,129
-53.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44JOD 1.02
$2.19COP 6,899
-34.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.06JOD 5.00
$8.71COP 27.5K
-18.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65JOD 1.17
$1.37COP 4,306
20.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KJOD 24.6K
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
24.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KJOD 24.3K
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-3.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127JOD 89.9
$177COP 559.3K
-28.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95JOD 11.29
$13.88COP 43.8K
14.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.31JOD 22.86
$29.72COP 93.8K
8.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 141.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.23JOD 7.95
$6.65COP 21.0K
68.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489JOD 346
$813COP 2.6M
-39.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,400JOD 6,652
$9,187COP 29.0M
2.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8JOD 45.16
$89.5COP 282.3K
-28.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.7JOD 57.8
$59.0COP 186.0K
38.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124JOD 87.9
$138COP 435.9K
-10.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9JOD 61.5
$102COP 322.1K
-14.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$663COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Mafraq
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,053JOD 745
$678COP 2.1M
55.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.81
10.94
-37.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Mafraq: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 55% higher in Al Mafraq, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Al Mafraq versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Al Mafraq vs $305 in Medellin – so Al Mafraq wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Mafraq vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al Mafraq?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 106%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,223 per month in Al Mafraq and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Mafraq or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Al Mafraq and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Al Mafraq and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Mafraq or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Al Mafraq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al Mafraq or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Mafraq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al Mafraq or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Mafraq. 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.