🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 25% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Rumaitha42% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.00IQD 5,239
$6.16COP 20.1K
-35.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.15IQD 32.9K
$32.60COP 106.1K
-22.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.71IQD 8,785
$7.34COP 23.9K
-8.58%
Cappuccino
$2.60IQD 3,408
$1.72COP 5,600
51.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 515
$1.05COP 3,420
-62.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 265
$0.77COP 2,515
-74.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.86IQD 3,745
$1.69COP 5,488
69.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91IQD 3,809
$3.17COP 10.3K
-8.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33IQD 1,738
$1.05COP 3,423
26.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79IQD 1,031
$1.30COP 4,236
-39.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66IQD 2,168
$1.40COP 4,544
18.57%
Eggs
$1.74IQD 2,274
$2.16COP 7,047
-19.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.37IQD 5,727
$4.39COP 14.3K
-0.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61IQD 6,039
$5.88COP 19.1K
-21.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.31IQD 17.4K
$8.64COP 28.1K
54.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20IQD 1,570
$2.28COP 7,426
-47.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,507
$1.11COP 3,604
3.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02IQD 1,330
$1.53COP 4,983
-33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74IQD 964
$1.35COP 4,410
-45.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65IQD 845
$1.13COP 3,674
-42.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 872
$1.13COP 3,692
-40.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62IQD 813
$0.85COP 2,753
-27.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55IQD 722
$0.91COP 2,975
-39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89IQD 2,479
$2.34COP 7,630
-19.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.90IQD 16.9K
$12.37COP 40.3K
4.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85IQD 2,421
$1.20COP 3,909
54.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08IQD 2,727
$2.49COP 8,104
-16.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 478
$0.84COP 2,728
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.29IQD 41.0K
$40.57COP 132.1K
-22.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.33IQD 3,054
$1.42COP 4,623
64.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49IQD 1,957
$1.92COP 6,235
-22.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.92IQD 7,756
$7.66COP 24.9K
-22.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 751
$0.99COP 3,223
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.2M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
6.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.7M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-26.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.1IQD 102.3K
$80.8COP 263.1K
-3.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.49IQD 22.9K
$9.95COP 32.4K
75.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.43IQD 45.1K
$24.18COP 78.7K
42.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.84IQD 48.2K
$25.08COP 81.7K
46.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12IQD 22.4K
$19.15COP 62.3K
-10.60%
Cinema Ticket
$7.63IQD 9,995
$3.98COP 13.0K
91.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153IQD 200.1K
$305COP 993.5K
-49.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,328IQD 4.4M
$6,059COP 19.7M
-45.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.81IQD 35.1K
$58.1COP 189.2K
-53.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.05IQD 32.8K
$32.20COP 104.8K
-22.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.3IQD 81.5K
$101COP 327.9K
-38.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.45IQD 53.0K
$108COP 350.8K
-62.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239IQD 313.3K
$477COP 1.6M
-49.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179IQD 234.9K
$376COP 1.2M
-52.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584IQD 764.6K
$845COP 2.7M
-30.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338IQD 442.7K
$730COP 2.4M
-53.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
13.43
-57.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Al-Rumaitha and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $193 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al-Rumaitha?
Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,546 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.
What is the rent difference between Al-Rumaitha and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Al-Rumaitha versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-Rumaitha and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 30% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al-Rumaitha or in Medellin?
At $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al-Rumaitha or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al-Rumaitha vs other spots: cost of living compared