🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,333 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,249 in Ar-rawdah versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,165 in Ar-rawdah versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ar-rawdah costs roughly 21% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ar-rawdah is 3% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.29KWD 3.47
$8.02COP 25.3K
40.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7KWD 19.58
$47.87COP 151.0K
33.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04KWD 2.78
$9.89COP 31.2K
-8.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.30KWD 1.01
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89KWD 1.50
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.30KWD 1.63
$3.13COP 9,873
69.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71KWD 0.22
$1.91COP 6,019
-62.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31KWD 0.10
$1.51COP 4,763
-79.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12COP 9,853
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60KWD 0.49
$1.44COP 4,558
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53KWD 0.47
$2.49COP 7,843
-38.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00KWD 0.61
$1.77COP 5,595
12.99%
Eggs
$2.07KWD 0.64
$2.96COP 9,336
-30.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35KWD 1.34
$10.07COP 31.8K
-56.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83KWD 2.10
$10.12COP 31.9K
-32.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.45KWD 3.21
$14.30COP 45.1K
-26.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44KWD 0.75
$4.14COP 13.0K
-41.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94KWD 0.59
$1.61COP 5,073
20.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81KWD 0.56
$2.25COP 7,083
-19.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50KWD 0.46
$2.25COP 7,104
-33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39KWD 0.43
$2.04COP 6,444
-31.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48KWD 0.45
$1.54COP 4,842
-3.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.38KWD 0.73
$1.17COP 3,691
103.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60KWD 0.18
$1.31COP 4,121
-54.20%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.32KWD 1.02
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02KWD 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38KWD 0.42
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80KWD 0.86
$3.90COP 12.3K
-28.21%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 44.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74COP 5,498
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87COP 9,053
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82KWD 0.25
$1.22COP 3,834
-32.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.82KWD 1.48
$1.31COP 4,129
267.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.19KWD 0.98
$2.19COP 6,899
45.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.00KWD 4.92
$8.71COP 27.5K
83.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33KWD 0.10
$1.37COP 4,306
-75.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KKWD 6,487
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
-24.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KKWD 6,255
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-43.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.2KWD 20.33
$177COP 559.3K
-62.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.53KWD 6.92
$13.88COP 43.8K
62.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.99KWD 9.21
$29.72COP 93.8K
0.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$102KWD 31.20
$44.88COP 141.6K
126.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.47KWD 3.52
$6.65COP 21.0K
72.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300KWD 92.2
$813COP 2.6M
-63.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,436KWD 2,900
$9,187COP 29.0M
2.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.81KWD 11.62
$89.5COP 282.3K
-57.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.84KWD 12.24
$59.0COP 186.0K
-32.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8KWD 30.66
$138COP 435.9K
-27.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9KWD 27.32
$102COP 322.1K
-12.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737KWD 226
$1,062COP 3.3M
-30.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$545KWD 167
$663COP 2.1M
-17.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,847KWD 567
$1,888COP 6.0M
-2.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,320KWD 406
$1,027COP 3.2M
28.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,642KWD 505
$1,675COP 5.3M
-1.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rawdah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
10.94
-40.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ar-rawdah: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Ar-rawdah and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Ar-rawdah vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $305, 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?
Ar-rawdah wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rawdah 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 $2,000 in Ar-rawdah and $2,521 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: $737 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,062 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ar-rawdah compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,333 per month in Ar-rawdah versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ar-rawdah or in Medellin?
At $1,333 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rawdah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rawdah 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 Ar-rawdah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,333 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ar-rawdah 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 Ar-rawdah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.