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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $898 per month in Aqaba vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,439 per month in Aqaba vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,980 per month in Aqaba vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Aqaba is about 13% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Aqaba and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Aqaba 33% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 JOD 2.05
$5.92 COP 21.5K
-51.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.92 JOD 34.68
$32.75 COP 119.1K
49.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.25 JOD 3.01
$7.20 COP 26.2K
-40.97%
Cappuccino
$4.08 JOD 2.89
$1.70 COP 6,186
140.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 JOD 0.37
$1.10 COP 3,996
-52.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 JOD 0.25
$0.72 COP 2,625
-51.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.75 JOD 4.08
$1.67 COP 6,067
244.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 JOD 4.92
$3.10 COP 11.3K
123.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 JOD 1.02
$1.06 COP 3,837
35.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 JOD 0.33
$1.25 COP 4,531
-62.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 JOD 1.21
$1.39 COP 5,060
22.30%
Eggs
$1.66 JOD 1.18
$2.26 COP 8,229
-26.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.72 JOD 4.06
$4.33 COP 15.8K
32.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.14 JOD 2.94
$5.84 COP 21.2K
-29.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.59 JOD 6.80
$8.83 COP 32.1K
8.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 JOD 0.97
$2.24 COP 8,159
-38.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 JOD 0.97
$1.08 COP 3,911
26.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 JOD 0.74
$1.53 COP 5,563
-32.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 JOD 0.52
$1.37 COP 4,987
-45.99%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 JOD 0.52
$1.13 COP 4,109
-34.51%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 JOD 0.50
$1.12 COP 4,067
-37.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 JOD 0.43
$0.85 COP 3,080
-28.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 JOD 0.42
$0.91 COP 3,305
-35.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48 JOD 2.46
$2.33 COP 8,477
49.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.90 JOD 11.98
$11.13 COP 40.5K
51.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 JOD 2.02
$1.19 COP 4,342
139.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 JOD 1.73
$2.37 COP 8,617
2.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 COP 2,859
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 JOD 0.34
$1.44 COP 5,223
-66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 JOD 0.98
$1.91 COP 6,952
-27.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.12 JOD 5.05
$8.02 COP 29.2K
-11.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 JOD 1.00
$0.94 COP 3,410
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K JOD 19.4K
$17.9K COP 65.2M
52.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K JOD 22.3K
$26.8K COP 97.4M
17.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 JOD 74.6
$84.0 COP 305.4K
25.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.98 JOD 12.04
$9.60 COP 34.9K
76.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.99 JOD 22.68
$24.16 COP 87.9K
32.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.5 JOD 50.7
$25.88 COP 94.1K
176.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 JOD 7.93
$3.92 COP 14.2K
185.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 JOD 195
$306 COP 1.1M
-10.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,840 JOD 2,013
$5,919 COP 21.5M
-52.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.70 JOD 20.35
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-50.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.49 JOD 29.42
$31.82 COP 115.7K
30.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.75 JOD 29.60
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-58.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 JOD 50.4
$107 COP 389.7K
-33.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$313 JOD 222
$487 COP 1.8M
-35.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 JOD 184
$368 COP 1.3M
-29.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$739 JOD 524
$826 COP 3.0M
-10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 JOD 352
$716 COP 2.6M
-30.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,137 JOD 806
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-61.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$554 JOD 393
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-60.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aqaba
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$572 JOD 405
$546 COP 2.0M
4.77%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $313 in Aqaba versus $487 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 5% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Aqaba vs $190 in Medellin – so Aqaba wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Is Medellin cheaper than Aqaba?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,347 per month in Aqaba and $1,550 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 Aqaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Aqaba vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $898 in Aqaba and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Aqaba and $306 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Aqaba or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aqaba or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Aqaba 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 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.

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