😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,219 in Al Muharraq versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Al Muharraq versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,284 in Al Muharraq versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al Muharraq is roughly 18% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Muharraq9% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.09BHD 1.54
$6.16COP 20.1K
-33.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.83BHD 10.11
$32.60COP 106.1K
-17.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29BHD 1.99
$7.34COP 23.9K
-27.93%
Cappuccino
$4.07BHD 1.53
$1.72COP 5,600
136.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85BHD 0.32
$1.05COP 3,420
-19.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36BHD 0.14
$0.77COP 2,515
-53.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.36BHD 2.02
$1.69COP 5,488
217.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82BHD 2.95
$3.17COP 10.3K
146.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30BHD 0.49
$1.05COP 3,423
23.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52BHD 0.20
$1.30COP 4,236
-60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32BHD 0.87
$1.40COP 4,544
65.71%
Eggs
$2.33BHD 0.88
$2.16COP 7,047
7.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.62BHD 1.74
$4.39COP 14.3K
5.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15BHD 1.94
$5.88COP 19.1K
-12.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.93BHD 2.99
$8.64COP 28.1K
-8.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20BHD 0.45
$2.28COP 7,426
-47.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59BHD 0.60
$1.11COP 3,604
43.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07BHD 0.40
$1.53COP 4,983
-30.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.22BHD 0.46
$1.35COP 4,410
-9.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76BHD 0.29
$1.13COP 3,674
-32.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52BHD 0.20
$1.13COP 3,692
-53.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16BHD 0.44
$0.85COP 2,753
36.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51BHD 0.19
$0.91COP 2,975
-43.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27BHD 1.99
$2.34COP 7,630
125.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.78BHD 7.08
$12.37COP 40.3K
51.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35BHD 1.26
$1.20COP 3,909
179.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16BHD 1.19
$2.49COP 8,104
26.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83BHD 0.31
$0.84COP 2,728
-1.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70BHD 1.77
$1.42COP 4,623
230.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69BHD 1.01
$1.92COP 6,235
40.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.23BHD 1.97
$7.66COP 24.9K
-31.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.44BHD 0.17
$0.99COP 3,223
-55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KBHD 14.0K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
105.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6KBHD 5,896
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-41.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105BHD 39.71
$80.8COP 263.1K
30.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.06BHD 7.94
$9.95COP 32.4K
111.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15BHD 14.76
$24.18COP 78.7K
61.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3BHD 19.72
$25.08COP 81.7K
108.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.15BHD 2.70
$3.98COP 13.0K
79.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$387BHD 146
$305COP 993.5K
26.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,944BHD 2,240
$6,059COP 19.7M
-1.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.95BHD 10.16
$58.1COP 189.2K
-53.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.9BHD 24.09
$32.20COP 104.8K
98.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4BHD 31.44
$101COP 327.9K
-17.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3BHD 34.02
$108COP 350.8K
-16.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$608BHD 229
$477COP 1.6M
27.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$504BHD 190
$376COP 1.2M
34.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$969BHD 365
$845COP 2.7M
14.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$790BHD 298
$730COP 2.4M
8.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,011BHD 758
$3,215COP 10.5M
-37.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,612BHD 608
$1,372COP 4.5M
17.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Muharraq
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,549BHD 584
$617COP 2.0M
151.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.56
13.43
-36.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Muharraq: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $608 in Al Muharraq and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Muharraq pays 151% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Al Muharraq vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $201 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 18% in total monthly costs ($1,219 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin 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 151% 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: $608 in Al Muharraq versus $477 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 4% higher in Al Muharraq. 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 $1,219 per month in Al Muharraq versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,219 in Al Muharraq, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Al Muharraq. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Al Muharraq. 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