🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Al Muharraq versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,642 in Al Muharraq versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,181 in Al Muharraq versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al Muharraq costs roughly 34% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Muharraq is 19% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.61BHD 0.98
$8.02COP 25.0K
-67.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.60BHD 10.02
$47.87COP 149.4K
-44.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.04BHD 2.28
$9.89COP 30.8K
-38.93%
Cappuccino
$3.97BHD 1.50
$3.13COP 9,767
26.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90BHD 0.34
$1.91COP 5,954
-52.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32BHD 0.12
$1.51COP 4,712
-78.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.72BHD 2.53
$3.12COP 9,747
115.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81BHD 2.57
$5.75COP 17.9K
18.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35BHD 0.51
$1.44COP 4,509
-6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11BHD 0.42
$2.49COP 7,759
-55.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36BHD 0.89
$1.77COP 5,535
33.33%
Eggs
$2.21BHD 0.83
$2.96COP 9,235
-25.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.61BHD 1.36
$10.07COP 31.4K
-64.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.75BHD 1.79
$10.12COP 31.6K
-53.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.56BHD 3.23
$14.30COP 44.6K
-40.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04BHD 0.39
$4.14COP 12.9K
-74.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87BHD 0.71
$1.61COP 5,019
16.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09BHD 0.41
$2.25COP 7,007
-51.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43BHD 0.54
$2.25COP 7,028
-36.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06BHD 0.40
$2.04COP 6,375
-48.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51BHD 0.19
$1.54COP 4,790
-66.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54BHD 0.21
$1.17COP 3,651
-53.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51BHD 0.19
$1.31COP 4,077
-61.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29BHD 2.00
$3.90COP 12.2K
35.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79BHD 7.08
$14.01COP 43.7K
34.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64BHD 1.37
$1.74COP 5,439
109.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71BHD 1.02
$2.87COP 8,956
-5.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,792
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45BHD 2.05
$1.31COP 4,084
316.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35BHD 0.51
$2.19COP 6,825
-38.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.20BHD 1.96
$8.71COP 27.2K
-40.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50BHD 0.19
$1.37COP 4,260
-63.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KBHD 13.9K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
32.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5KBHD 7,720
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-42.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155BHD 58.3
$177COP 553.2K
-12.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54BHD 8.12
$13.88COP 43.3K
55.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.72BHD 13.46
$29.72COP 92.8K
20.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.71BHD 4.04
$6.65COP 20.7K
61.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489BHD 184
$813COP 2.5M
-39.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1KBHD 4,196
$9,187COP 28.7M
21.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4BHD 18.98
$89.5COP 279.3K
-43.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.1BHD 21.88
$59.0COP 184.0K
-1.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9BHD 32.75
$138COP 431.2K
-37.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4BHD 33.68
$102COP 318.7K
-12.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463BHD 175
$1,062COP 3.3M
-56.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372BHD 140
$663COP 2.1M
-43.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006BHD 379
$1,888COP 5.9M
-46.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$734BHD 277
$1,027COP 3.2M
-28.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,967BHD 741
$4,183COP 13.1M
-52.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,565BHD 590
$1,675COP 5.2M
-6.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,813BHD 683
$678COP 2.1M
167.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.21
10.94
-43.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Muharraq: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Al Muharraq and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Muharraq pays 168% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Al Muharraq vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $305 per month, with Al Muharraq cheaper across the board.
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 Muharraq vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Al Muharraq and in Medellin?
Al Muharraq and Medellin differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($1,103 vs $1,681 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Al Muharraq or Medellin?
Average pay runs 168% higher in Al Muharraq, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Al Muharraq and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Al Muharraq versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Al Muharraq or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,103 per month in Al Muharraq versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,103 in Al Muharraq versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Muharraq but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al Muharraq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Al Muharraq and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Al Muharraq or Medellin?
Expats usually find Al Muharraq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Muharraq vs other spots: cost of living compared