🙂A single person spends $1,420 per month in Al Wakrah vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,530 per month in Al Wakrah vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,639 per month in Al Wakrah vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Al Wakrah is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Al Wakrah and Medellin sit above the global median – Al Wakrah by 4%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19QAR 15.25
$8.02COP 25.0K
-47.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.73QAR 152
$47.87COP 149.4K
-12.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.57QAR 20.28
$9.89COP 30.8K
-43.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.16QAR 44.26
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.20QAR 48.03
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.79QAR 21.08
$3.13COP 9,767
84.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72QAR 2.60
$1.91COP 5,954
-62.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26QAR 0.94
$1.51COP 4,712
-82.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12COP 9,747
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09QAR 7.61
$1.44COP 4,509
45.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36QAR 4.95
$2.49COP 7,759
-45.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92QAR 7.01
$1.77COP 5,535
8.47%
Eggs
$2.99QAR 10.89
$2.96COP 9,235
1.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.86QAR 21.34
$10.07COP 31.4K
-41.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34QAR 30.37
$10.12COP 31.6K
-17.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67QAR 27.92
$14.30COP 44.6K
-46.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18QAR 7.95
$4.14COP 12.9K
-47.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77QAR 6.43
$1.61COP 5,019
9.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51QAR 5.49
$2.25COP 7,007
-32.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26QAR 4.59
$2.25COP 7,028
-44.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85QAR 3.08
$2.04COP 6,375
-58.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80QAR 2.91
$1.54COP 4,790
-48.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12QAR 4.08
$1.17COP 3,651
-4.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51QAR 1.86
$1.31COP 4,077
-61.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$9.71QAR 35.34
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87QAR 6.79
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29QAR 8.34
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00QAR 14.57
$3.90COP 12.2K
2.56%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74COP 5,439
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87COP 8,956
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56QAR 2.05
$1.22COP 3,792
-54.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93QAR 7.03
$1.31COP 4,084
47.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02QAR 7.37
$2.19COP 6,825
-7.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.73QAR 49.99
$8.71COP 27.2K
57.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54QAR 1.97
$1.37COP 4,260
-60.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KQAR 98.2K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-3.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KQAR 79.9K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-38.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.2QAR 325
$177COP 553.2K
-49.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.63QAR 130
$13.88COP 43.3K
156.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.3QAR 318
$29.72COP 92.8K
193.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$139QAR 506
$44.88COP 140.1K
209.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.44QAR 34.36
$6.65COP 20.7K
41.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677QAR 2,463
$813COP 2.5M
-16.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,923QAR 36.1K
$9,187COP 28.7M
8.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.26QAR 95.6
$89.5COP 279.3K
-70.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.40QAR 74.3
$59.0COP 184.0K
-65.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107QAR 390
$138COP 431.2K
-22.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4QAR 296
$102COP 318.7K
-20.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062QAR 3,864
$1,062COP 3.3M
-0.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653QAR 2,376
$663COP 2.1M
-1.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048QAR 7,456
$1,888COP 5.9M
8.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,965QAR 7,153
$1,027COP 3.2M
91.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Wakrah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,374QAR 15.9K
$678COP 2.1M
545.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.88
10.94
-46.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Wakrah: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Al Wakrah versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 545% higher in Al Wakrah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Al Wakrah versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $305 – making Al Wakrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Wakrah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Al Wakrah?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,130 per month in Al Wakrah and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Wakrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Wakrah or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Al Wakrah and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Al Wakrah and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Wakrah or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Wakrah, where all-in costs run around $1,420, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Al Wakrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al Wakrah or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Wakrah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al Wakrah or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Wakrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.