Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between An Najaf and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $631 per month in An Najaf vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $969 per month in An Najaf vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,308 per month in An Najaf vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

An Najaf is about 62% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

An Najaf sits 54% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 IQD 5,867

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-44.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.11 IQD 30.3K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-51.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 IQD 6,589

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-49.14%

Cappuccino

$2.57 IQD 3,360

$3.13 COP 9,767

-17.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 514

$1.91 COP 5,954

-79.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 IQD 342

$1.51 COP 4,712

-82.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,061

$3.12 COP 9,747

23.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 IQD 2,587

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-65.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 IQD 1,341

$1.44 COP 4,509

-29.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 IQD 1,095

$2.49 COP 7,759

-66.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 IQD 1,976

$1.77 COP 5,535

-14.69%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,263

$2.96 COP 9,235

-41.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.78 IQD 4,954

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-62.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 IQD 6,035

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-54.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.37 IQD 13.6K

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-27.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 IQD 1,528

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-71.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,413

$1.61 COP 5,019

-32.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 IQD 1,330

$2.25 COP 7,007

-54.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 954

$2.25 COP 7,028

-67.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 855

$2.04 COP 6,375

-68.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 920

$1.54 COP 4,790

-54.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 816

$1.17 COP 3,651

-47.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 IQD 645

$1.31 COP 4,077

-62.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.62 IQD 2,120

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-58.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,900

$1.74 COP 5,439

27.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 IQD 2,888

$2.87 COP 8,956

-23.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 461

$1.22 COP 3,792

-71.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 IQD 1,990

$1.31 COP 4,084

16.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 IQD 2,032

$2.19 COP 6,825

-29.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 IQD 7,107

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-37.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.44 IQD 578

$1.37 COP 4,260

-67.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.1K IQD 15.9M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-56.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.1K IQD 23.7M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-49.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$38.48 IQD 50.4K

$177 COP 553.2K

-78.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.19 IQD 22.5K

$13.88 COP 43.3K

23.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

22.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.23 IQD 38.3K

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-34.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$9.28 IQD 12.1K

$6.65 COP 20.7K

39.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$165 IQD 216.6K

$813 COP 2.5M

-79.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$914 IQD 1.2M

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-90.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.19 IQD 21.2K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-81.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.49 IQD 34.7K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-55.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 IQD 93.5K

$138 COP 431.2K

-48.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.55 IQD 61.0K

$102 COP 318.7K

-54.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 IQD 338.1K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-75.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 IQD 183.5K

$663 COP 2.1M

-78.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 IQD 448.6K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-81.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 IQD 265.8K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-80.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,237 IQD 1.6M

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-70.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$488 IQD 639.3K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-70.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 IQD 951.3K

$678 COP 2.1M

7.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

10.94

-62.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for An Najaf: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in An Najaf 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 7% higher in An Najaf, 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 $23.00 in An Najaf versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $305 – making An Najaf 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

An Najaf vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 167% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $946 per month in An Najaf and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $631 in An Najaf and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $165 per month in An Najaf and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $631, than in Medellin at $1,681. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $631 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. 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.