🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,246 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,105 in Al-Rumaitha versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Al-Rumaitha costs roughly 77% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al-Rumaitha is 72% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$8.03COP 25.3K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$48.26COP 152.0K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.77COP 30.8K
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.91COP 9,167
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.94COP 6,122
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.52COP 4,792
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09COP 9,740
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.36COP 4,296
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.39COP 7,519
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78IQD 1,015
$1.70COP 5,356
-54.12%
Eggs
$1.80IQD 2,355
$2.87COP 9,038
-37.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$9.94COP 31.3K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.95IQD 2,549
$10.78COP 34.0K
-81.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.57IQD 13.8K
$14.73COP 46.4K
-28.24%
Apples(1kg)
$0.75IQD 982
$4.09COP 12.9K
-81.66%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78IQD 1,027
$1.57COP 4,950
-50.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77IQD 1,011
$2.13COP 6,695
-63.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.36IQD 476
$2.21COP 6,972
-83.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40IQD 520
$2.05COP 6,447
-80.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39IQD 515
$1.50COP 4,737
-74.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39IQD 512
$1.19COP 3,747
-67.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39IQD 512
$1.16COP 3,647
-66.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.50IQD 1,965
$3.90COP 12.3K
-61.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.76IQD 16.7K
$14.44COP 45.5K
-11.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55IQD 2,027
$1.58COP 4,987
-1.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31IQD 3,031
$2.83COP 8,905
-18.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 475
$1.17COP 3,679
-69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.7COP 244.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32IQD 3,040
$1.28COP 4,045
81.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77IQD 1,009
$2.09COP 6,589
-63.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.62COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.30COP 4,088
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,188IQD 12.0M
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
-74.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$176COP 554.5K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.0IQD 98.3K
$13.37COP 42.1K
461.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.89COP 94.1K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.91IQD 35.2K
$44.76COP 141.0K
-39.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.87IQD 5,073
$17.06COP 53.7K
-77.32%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47IQD 15.0K
$6.20COP 19.5K
85.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$793COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,019COP 28.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.28IQD 14.8K
$85.6COP 269.6K
-86.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.99IQD 19.6K
$58.5COP 184.1K
-74.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$136COP 429.3K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$22.81IQD 29.9K
$103COP 324.7K
-77.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$150IQD 196.8K
$1,060COP 3.3M
-85.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114IQD 149.6K
$680COP 2.1M
-83.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$229IQD 300.4K
$2,012COP 6.3M
-88.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,537IQD 2.0M
$1,169COP 3.7M
31.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,111COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,701COP 5.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al-Rumaitha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
10.94
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al-Rumaitha: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in Al-Rumaitha and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Eating Out. The 342% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $582 in Al-Rumaitha and $2,574 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: $150 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Al-Rumaitha and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 173% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Al-Rumaitha and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $388 per month in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 342% 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-Rumaitha or in Medellin?
At $388 in Al-Rumaitha versus $1,716 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 342% 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