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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $918 per month in Aqaba vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,477 per month in Aqaba vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,035 per month in Aqaba vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Aqaba is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Aqaba sits 33% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 JOD 2.01

$7.89 COP 24.2K

-64.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.8 JOD 47.32

$44.53 COP 136.5K

50.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 JOD 2.94

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-55.22%

Cappuccino

$4.32 JOD 3.06

$2.90 COP 8,874

48.97%

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

$0.66 JOD 0.47

$1.81 COP 5,541

-63.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 JOD 0.40

$1.55 COP 4,741

-63.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.57 JOD 6.07

$3.25 COP 9,962

163.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.87 JOD 7.70

$5.88 COP 18.0K

84.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 JOD 0.98

$1.38 COP 4,230

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 JOD 0.33

$2.45 COP 7,517

-80.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 JOD 1.11

$1.51 COP 4,617

3.97%

Eggs

$1.71 JOD 1.21

$2.78 COP 8,516

-38.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.54 JOD 3.92

$9.05 COP 27.7K

-38.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 JOD 2.94

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-61.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 JOD 7.15

$14.63 COP 44.8K

-30.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.44 JOD 1.02

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-63.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 JOD 0.98

$1.38 COP 4,219

0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 JOD 0.73

$2.30 COP 7,056

-54.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 JOD 0.48

$2.02 COP 6,185

-66.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 JOD 0.49

$2.09 COP 6,390

-66.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 JOD 0.49

$1.63 COP 4,996

-57.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 JOD 0.43

$1.08 COP 3,313

-43.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 JOD 0.40

$1.25 COP 3,843

-54.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 JOD 2.72

$4.03 COP 12.4K

-4.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.16 JOD 12.15

$13.47 COP 41.3K

27.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 JOD 1.96

$1.60 COP 4,904

73.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 JOD 1.73

$3.00 COP 9,189

-18.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 JOD 0.33

$1.61 COP 4,920

-70.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 JOD 1.03

$2.13 COP 6,533

-31.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.91 JOD 4.89

$8.52 COP 26.1K

-18.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 JOD 1.00

$1.35 COP 4,142

4.44%

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

$30.8K JOD 21.8K

$28.3K COP 86.8M

8.76%

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

$30.7K JOD 21.7K

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-14.05%

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

$138 JOD 97.9

$151 COP 463.8K

-8.63%

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

$15.64 JOD 11.07

$13.10 COP 40.1K

19.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.70 JOD 22.44

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 JOD 44.13

$46.33 COP 141.9K

34.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 JOD 7.88

$6.43 COP 19.7K

73.09%

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

$484 JOD 343

$835 COP 2.6M

-42.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,785 JOD 1,972

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-68.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.77 JOD 19.66

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-68.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.69 JOD 29.52

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-24.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.12 JOD 30.53

$137 COP 418.5K

-68.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 JOD 50.8

$109 COP 335.1K

-34.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 JOD 203

$952 COP 2.9M

-69.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 JOD 147

$668 COP 2.0M

-68.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$670 JOD 474

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-66.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 JOD 319

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-60.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,121 JOD 794

$3,696 COP 11.3M

-69.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$559 JOD 396

$1,586 COP 4.9M

-64.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 JOD 392

$625 COP 1.9M

-11.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

10.43

-34.71%

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

Last update for Aqaba: August 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Aqaba versus $952 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 13% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Aqaba versus $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Aqaba vs $297 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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Aqaba and $2,530 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 $918 in Aqaba and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Aqaba and $835 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 $918, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.