🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $631 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in Al-Qusayr versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,378 in Al-Qusayr versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al-Qusayr costs roughly 62% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al-Qusayr is 54% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.96SYP 1,210
$8.04COP 24.8K
23.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.13SYP 5,484
$48.29COP 148.6K
-6.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20SYP 875
$9.42COP 29.0K
-23.57%
Cappuccino
$3.77SYP 459
$2.94COP 9,040
28.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26SYP 275
$1.86COP 5,735
21.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SYP 102
$1.46COP 4,479
-42.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92SYP 233
$3.21COP 9,882
-40.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96SYP 360
$5.71COP 17.6K
-48.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05SYP 128
$1.44COP 4,428
-27.08%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42SYP 50.7
$2.40COP 7,389
-82.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58SYP 192
$1.70COP 5,228
-7.06%
Eggs
$1.61SYP 195
$2.89COP 8,896
-44.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.83SYP 466
$10.06COP 30.9K
-61.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.87SYP 713
$9.97COP 30.7K
-41.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.59SYP 1,652
$14.20COP 43.7K
-4.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03SYP 126
$3.98COP 12.3K
-74.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37SYP 167
$1.58COP 4,878
-13.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14SYP 138
$2.15COP 6,624
-46.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.01SYP 123
$2.30COP 7,078
-56.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81SYP 98.2
$2.00COP 6,169
-59.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80SYP 97.6
$1.51COP 4,646
-47.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41SYP 49.26
$1.20COP 3,701
-65.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66SYP 80.1
$1.28COP 3,946
-48.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80SYP 340
$3.84COP 11.8K
-27.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91SYP 718
$14.01COP 43.1K
-57.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07SYP 130
$1.71COP 5,256
-37.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98SYP 362
$2.74COP 8,440
8.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02SYP 124
$1.31COP 4,016
-22.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48SYP 180
$2.17COP 6,680
-31.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.90SYP 960
$8.29COP 25.5K
-4.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.64SYP 443
$1.36COP 4,172
167.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.1KSYP 1.8M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-44.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3KSYP 2.3M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-47.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140SYP 17.0K
$169COP 519.2K
-16.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.72SYP 1,181
$13.57COP 41.8K
-28.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.01SYP 5,591
$28.32COP 87.2K
62.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.34SYP 649
$6.65COP 20.5K
-19.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$65.4SYP 7,945
$803COP 2.5M
-91.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,769SYP 215.0K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-80.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.39SYP 3,450
$87.4COP 268.8K
-67.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28SYP 4,895
$59.4COP 182.7K
-32.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.0SYP 7,286
$139COP 427.5K
-56.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0SYP 7,042
$102COP 314.0K
-43.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$653COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Qusayr
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.25
10.94
30.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-Qusayr: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Al-Qusayr vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $300 per month, with Al-Qusayr 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-Qusayr vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al-Qusayr?
Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $946 in Al-Qusayr and $2,462 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.
How do food prices compare in Al-Qusayr and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-Qusayr and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $631 per month in Al-Qusayr versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 160% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-Qusayr or in Medellin?
At $631 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Qusayr but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Qusayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al-Qusayr or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Qusayr 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.