Cost of Living Comparison Between Aqaba and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Aqaba and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Aqaba vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,442 per month in Aqaba vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,977 per month in Aqaba vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Aqaba is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Aqaba and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Aqaba 33% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 JOD 1.99

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-52.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.81 JOD 34.55

$33.33 COP 116.3K

46.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 JOD 2.91

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-43.15%

Cappuccino

$4.21 JOD 2.98

$1.63 COP 5,687

158.28%

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

$0.49 JOD 0.35

$1.09 COP 3,821

-55.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 JOD 0.26

$0.73 COP 2,548

-49.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.51 JOD 3.90

$1.74 COP 6,065

216.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 JOD 4.93

$3.23 COP 11.3K

115.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 JOD 1.02

$1.05 COP 3,662

38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 JOD 0.36

$1.29 COP 4,515

-60.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 JOD 1.19

$1.32 COP 4,617

27.27%

Eggs

$1.74 JOD 1.23

$2.27 COP 7,927

-23.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.50 JOD 3.89

$4.35 COP 15.2K

26.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 JOD 3.08

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-26.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.78 JOD 6.92

$8.61 COP 30.0K

13.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.99

$2.25 COP 7,844

-38.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.98

$1.07 COP 3,733

29.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 JOD 0.77

$1.52 COP 5,322

-28.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 JOD 0.52

$1.42 COP 4,964

-47.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 JOD 0.52

$1.17 COP 4,084

-36.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 JOD 0.51

$1.17 COP 4,077

-38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 JOD 0.46

$0.89 COP 3,096

-26.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 JOD 0.38

$0.90 COP 3,146

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 JOD 2.57

$2.25 COP 7,837

61.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.11 JOD 12.11

$11.04 COP 38.5K

54.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 JOD 2.03

$1.14 COP 3,977

151.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 JOD 1.76

$2.38 COP 8,301

4.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 JOD 0.36

$1.41 COP 4,912

-63.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 JOD 1.01

$1.90 COP 6,634

-25.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 JOD 4.92

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-10.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 JOD 1.02

$1.01 COP 3,509

42.57%

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

$27.2K JOD 19.2K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

54.67%

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

$31.3K JOD 22.1K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

18.00%

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

$105 JOD 74.5

$83.7 COP 292.1K

25.84%

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

$16.83 JOD 11.91

$9.45 COP 33.0K

78.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 JOD 22.47

$24.11 COP 84.1K

31.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.0 JOD 49.54

$25.31 COP 88.3K

176.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 JOD 7.87

$4.10 COP 14.3K

171.46%

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

$271 JOD 192

$312 COP 1.1M

-13.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,866 JOD 2,028

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-52.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.78 JOD 19.67

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.98 JOD 29.72

$32.56 COP 113.6K

28.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.05 JOD 30.47

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-56.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 JOD 50.9

$109 COP 378.8K

-33.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 JOD 224

$482 COP 1.7M

-34.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 JOD 182

$379 COP 1.3M

-32.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$740 JOD 524

$837 COP 2.9M

-11.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 JOD 351

$723 COP 2.5M

-31.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,115 JOD 789

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-60.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$565 JOD 400

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-53.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 JOD 392

$541 COP 1.9M

2.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.27

13.43

-45.87%

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

Last update for Aqaba: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $316 in Aqaba 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 2% higher in Aqaba, 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 $49.00 in Aqaba versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $190 – making Medellin 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

Aqaba vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Aqaba 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 Aqaba, 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 $906 in Aqaba and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $271 per month in Aqaba and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aqaba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Aqaba. 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.