Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between 'aqrah and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in 'aqrah: $661 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

32

Cost of Living Index in 'aqrah
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'aqrah Living Index
79

Cost of Living Index in Medellin
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Medellin Living Index

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'aqrah

🇮🇶 Iraq

$661

/mo nomad

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

$1,614

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in 'aqrah and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in 'aqrah and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in 'aqrah versus $1,614 in Medellin.

'aqrah $661
Medellin $1,614

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,015 in 'aqrah versus $2,402 in Medellin.

'aqrah $1,015
Medellin $2,402

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,369 in 'aqrah versus $3,190 in Medellin.

'aqrah $1,369
Medellin $3,190

Living in 'aqrah costs roughly 59% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: 'aqrah is 51% below, Medellin is 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 IQD 5,467

$7.93 COP 25.2K

-54.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.82 IQD 33.0K

$46.13 COP 146.3K

-52.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 10.3K

$9.50 COP 30.1K

-28.21%

Cappuccino

$2.38 IQD 3,602

$3.11 COP 9,866

-23.47%

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

$0.32 IQD 485

$1.83 COP 5,800

-82.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 273

$1.38 COP 4,360

-86.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 IQD 4,706

$3.05 COP 9,672

1.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 IQD 3,945

$5.50 COP 17.4K

-52.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 IQD 1,416

$1.45 COP 4,600

-35.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 IQD 1,086

$2.36 COP 7,496

-69.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 IQD 2,205

$1.68 COP 5,328

-13.10%

Eggs

$1.70 IQD 2,573

$2.86 COP 9,077

-40.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.48 IQD 5,252

$10.19 COP 32.3K

-65.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 IQD 6,291

$9.53 COP 30.2K

-56.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 IQD 20.1K

$14.04 COP 44.5K

-5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 IQD 1,383

$4.07 COP 12.9K

-77.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 IQD 1,375

$1.50 COP 4,742

-39.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,161

$2.17 COP 6,891

-64.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 IQD 990

$2.31 COP 7,310

-71.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 IQD 809

$1.93 COP 6,113

-72.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 IQD 965

$1.64 COP 5,196

-60.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 IQD 776

$1.13 COP 3,571

-54.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 IQD 756

$1.25 COP 3,954

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 IQD 2,368

$3.99 COP 12.6K

-60.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 IQD 16.5K

$13.35 COP 42.3K

-18.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 IQD 2,003

$1.70 COP 5,384

-21.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 IQD 2,800

$2.37 COP 7,525

-21.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 IQD 679

$1.21 COP 3,827

-62.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.50 IQD 26.4K

$76.5 COP 242.5K

-77.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 IQD 2,859

$1.32 COP 4,179

43.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 IQD 2,099

$2.14 COP 6,774

-35.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 IQD 7,788

$8.47 COP 26.8K

-39.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 IQD 727

$1.30 COP 4,114

-63.08%

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

$16.9K IQD 25.5M

$28.0K COP 88.7M

-39.66%

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

$19.4K IQD 29.3M

$35.4K COP 112.3M

-45.25%

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

$80.2 IQD 121.1K

$172 COP 545.6K

-53.43%

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

$13.58 IQD 20.5K

$13.37 COP 42.4K

1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.25 IQD 41.2K

$28.73 COP 91.1K

-5.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.01 IQD 55.9K

$45.24 COP 143.5K

-18.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.04 COP 54.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.39 IQD 12.7K

$6.28 COP 19.9K

33.60%

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

$142 IQD 213.9K

$770 COP 2.4M

-81.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,656 IQD 4.0M

$9,011 COP 28.6M

-70.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.08 IQD 33.4K

$86.4 COP 274.0K

-74.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.85 IQD 36.0K

$57.1 COP 181.1K

-58.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.26 IQD 71.4K

$137 COP 432.9K

-65.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.06 IQD 46.9K

$97.9 COP 310.4K

-68.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$184 IQD 277.8K

$1,055 COP 3.3M

-82.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 IQD 213.2K

$616 COP 2.0M

-77.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 IQD 541.4K

$1,892 COP 6.0M

-81.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 IQD 419.4K

$1,023 COP 3.2M

-72.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$779 IQD 1.2M

$4,059 COP 12.9M

-80.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$642 IQD 970.8K

$1,678 COP 5.3M

-61.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.33

10.94

-69.56%

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

Last update for 'aqrah: October 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

'aqrah

$160 24.2%

Medellin

$295 18.3% 84.3% $135

Accommodation & Living

'aqrah

$141 21.4%

Medellin

$616 38.2% 337% $475

Monthly Utilities & Internet

'aqrah

$121 18.3%

Medellin

$214 13.3% 77.1% $93

Eating Out

'aqrah

$101 15.3%

Medellin

$168 10.4% 67% $68

Clothing & Footwear

'aqrah

$56 8.5%

Medellin

$170 10.5% 204% $114

Sport & Entertainment

'aqrah

$54 8.1%

Medellin

$58 3.6% 7.5% $4

Getting Around

'aqrah

$28 4.3%

Medellin

$93 5.8% 232% $65

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $184 in 'aqrah and $1,055 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in 'aqrah vs $46.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $295 per month, with 'aqrah cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇶 'aqrah

🇨🇴 Medellin

🕒 Local time

03:57 3:57 AM

19:57 7:57 PM

8 h behind 'aqrah

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

68,100

2,486,723

💱 Currency

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

Colombian Peso COP $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR

10,000 COP = 3.15 USD

10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇶 Iraqi Dinar (ع.د)

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.88 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,570 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

USD to IQD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

'aqrah Medellin 12,130 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

'aqrah
Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

'aqrah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'aqrah wins on cost – living expenses run 144% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making 'aqrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $991 in 'aqrah and $2,421 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $184 in 'aqrah versus $1,055 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in 'aqrah versus $1,614 in Medellin – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in 'aqrah runs roughly 337% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in 'aqrah versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in 'aqrah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes 'aqrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but 'aqrah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes 'aqrah hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, 'aqrah and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find 'aqrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.