😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,387 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,324 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ar-rawdah versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ar-rawdah is roughly 35% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ar-rawdah is 4% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.76KWD 3.00
$6.16COP 20.1K
58.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3KWD 24.69
$32.60COP 106.1K
146.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.16KWD 2.82
$7.34COP 23.9K
24.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52KWD 0.77
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59KWD 1.10
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.88KWD 1.81
$1.72COP 5,600
241.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64KWD 0.20
$1.05COP 3,420
-39.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38KWD 0.12
$0.77COP 2,515
-50.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.69COP 5,488
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60KWD 0.49
$1.05COP 3,423
52.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26KWD 0.39
$1.30COP 4,236
-3.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72KWD 0.53
$1.40COP 4,544
22.86%
Eggs
$2.09KWD 0.64
$2.16COP 7,047
-3.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.25KWD 1.61
$4.39COP 14.3K
19.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43KWD 1.98
$5.88COP 19.1K
9.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.13KWD 3.11
$8.64COP 28.1K
17.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41KWD 0.74
$2.28COP 7,426
5.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95KWD 0.60
$1.11COP 3,604
75.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80KWD 0.55
$1.53COP 4,983
17.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45KWD 0.45
$1.35COP 4,410
7.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23KWD 0.38
$1.13COP 3,674
8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28KWD 0.39
$1.13COP 3,692
13.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69KWD 0.52
$0.85COP 2,753
98.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48KWD 0.15
$0.91COP 2,975
-47.25%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.31KWD 1.02
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34KWD 0.41
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00KWD 0.92
$2.34COP 7,630
28.21%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 3,909
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49COP 8,104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88KWD 0.27
$0.84COP 2,728
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.51KWD 13.38
$40.57COP 132.1K
7.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.34KWD 1.03
$1.42COP 4,623
135.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.28KWD 1.01
$1.92COP 6,235
70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.02KWD 4.92
$7.66COP 24.9K
109.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34KWD 0.10
$0.99COP 3,223
-65.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KKWD 6,527
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
17.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KKWD 6,127
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-25.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.9KWD 19.02
$80.8COP 263.1K
-23.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.84KWD 5.79
$9.95COP 32.4K
89.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.31KWD 8.09
$24.18COP 78.7K
8.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$93.4KWD 28.70
$25.08COP 81.7K
272.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.48KWD 13.98
$19.15COP 62.3K
137.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60KWD 3.57
$3.98COP 13.0K
191.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$408KWD 125
$305COP 993.5K
33.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,519KWD 2,004
$6,059COP 19.7M
7.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.73KWD 13.13
$58.1COP 189.2K
-26.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53KWD 13.08
$32.20COP 104.8K
32.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0KWD 26.74
$101COP 327.9K
-13.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.9KWD 25.19
$108COP 350.8K
-23.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$788KWD 242
$477COP 1.6M
65.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620KWD 191
$376COP 1.2M
64.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,601KWD 492
$845COP 2.7M
89.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,291KWD 397
$730COP 2.4M
76.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,628KWD 501
$1,372COP 4.5M
18.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.14
13.43
-46.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ar-rawdah: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $788 in Ar-rawdah and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $80.0 in Ar-rawdah vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $193, with Ar-rawdah cheaper for home cooking.
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
Ar-rawdah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ar-rawdah or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Ar-rawdah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ar-rawdah and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $2,080 in Ar-rawdah and $1,546 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ar-rawdah compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $788 in Ar-rawdah versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ar-rawdah or in Medellin?
Shoppers in Ar-rawdah pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Ar-rawdah and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $80.0 in Ar-rawdah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ar-rawdah or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,387 in Ar-rawdah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ar-rawdah. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ar-rawdah or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Ar-rawdah compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Ar-rawdah 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Ar-rawdah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.