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 $677 per month in An Najaf vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $997 per month in An Najaf vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,317 per month in An Najaf vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

An Najaf is about 33% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both An Najaf and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – An Najaf 50% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.01 IQD 5,251

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-32.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-30.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 IQD 6,311

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-33.33%

Cappuccino

$2.67 IQD 3,500

$1.63 COP 5,687

63.80%

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

$0.36 IQD 476

$1.09 COP 3,821

-66.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.73 COP 2,548

-75.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 IQD 4,462

$1.74 COP 6,065

95.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 IQD 3,840

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-9.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 IQD 1,804

$1.05 COP 3,662

31.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,021

$1.29 COP 4,515

-39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,058

$1.32 COP 4,617

18.94%

Eggs

$1.72 IQD 2,258

$2.27 COP 7,927

-24.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.38 IQD 3,121

$4.35 COP 15.2K

-45.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 IQD 6,281

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-18.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 IQD 13.8K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

22.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 IQD 1,658

$2.25 COP 7,844

-43.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 IQD 1,513

$1.07 COP 3,733

8.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,387

$1.52 COP 5,322

-30.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 IQD 963

$1.42 COP 4,964

-47.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 905

$1.17 COP 4,084

-41.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 889

$1.17 COP 4,077

-41.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 IQD 806

$0.89 COP 3,096

-30.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 IQD 479

$0.90 COP 3,146

-58.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 IQD 1,951

$2.25 COP 7,837

-33.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

23.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 IQD 2,404

$1.14 COP 3,977

61.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 IQD 2,719

$2.38 COP 8,301

-12.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.84 COP 2,916

-52.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-17.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 IQD 2,515

$1.41 COP 4,912

36.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 IQD 1,939

$1.90 COP 6,634

-22.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 IQD 6,398

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-36.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 IQD 632

$1.01 COP 3,509

-52.48%

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

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

-34.03%

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

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-25.86%

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

$59.8 IQD 78.3K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-28.59%

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

$22.94 IQD 30.0K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

142.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

43.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

15.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.05 IQD 19.7K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-21.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

87.07%

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

$165 IQD 216.6K

$312 COP 1.1M

-46.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$917 IQD 1.2M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-84.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.27 IQD 21.3K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-71.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-21.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 IQD 84.8K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-35.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.71 IQD 55.9K

$109 COP 378.8K

-60.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 IQD 311.7K

$482 COP 1.7M

-50.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 173.4K

$379 COP 1.3M

-65.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 IQD 501.1K

$837 COP 2.9M

-54.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 IQD 198.2K

$723 COP 2.5M

-79.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,276 IQD 1.7M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-55.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 IQD 628.7K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-60.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$752 IQD 984.2K

$541 COP 1.9M

38.96%

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 An Najaf: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $238 in An Najaf versus $482 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 39% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $190 – 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 50% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in An Najaf and $1,525 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 $677 in An Najaf and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $677 versus $1,017 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.