Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qabil and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-qabil and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $46.66 in Al-qabil versus $1,034 in Medellin.
Estimated couple costs with rent: $70.0 in Al-qabil versus $1,577 in Medellin.
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $94.1 in Al-qabil versus $2,120 in Medellin.
Living in Al-qabil costs roughly 95% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
Both cities sit below the global median: Al-qabil 97% lower, Medellin 23% lower.
🍽 Eating Out
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.70 COP 6,140
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.10 COP 3,966
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 COP 2,605
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.06 COP 3,809
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.25 COP 4,497
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.39 COP 5,022
-
Eggs
-
$2.26 COP 8,168
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$4.33 COP 15.6K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.24 COP 8,099
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.08 COP 3,882
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.53 COP 5,522
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.37 COP 4,950
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.13 COP 4,078
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.12 COP 4,036
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.85 COP 3,057
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.91 COP 3,281
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.33 COP 8,414
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 COP 2,838
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44 COP 5,184
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.91 COP 6,901
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.94 COP 3,385
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.9K COP 64.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.60 COP 34.7K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.16 COP 87.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.08 OMR 10.02
$25.88 COP 93.4K
0.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.33 OMR 3.97
$3.92 COP 14.1K
163.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$306 COP 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107 COP 386.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$487 COP 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$368 COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$826 COP 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$716 COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-qabil
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-qabil: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
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-qabil vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al-qabil?
Al-qabil is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 2115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $70.0 in Al-qabil and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al-qabil or Medellin?
At $46.66 in Al-qabil versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-qabil but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al-qabil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al-qabil or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Al-qabil is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Al-qabil or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Al-qabil and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-qabil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2115% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.