Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $970 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,309 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,647 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 4% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ar-rustaq and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq 28% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 OMR 2.03

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-11.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.10 OMR 10.05

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 OMR 3.08

$7.09 COP 25.3K

12.83%

Cappuccino

$5.01 OMR 1.93

$1.71 COP 6,115

192.98%

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

$0.50 OMR 0.19

$1.10 COP 3,924

-54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 OMR 0.10

$0.78 COP 2,781

-65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.54 OMR 4.83

$1.68 COP 5,997

646.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 OMR 4.55

$3.07 COP 11.0K

285.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 OMR 0.76

$1.09 COP 3,906

80.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.26 COP 4,508

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 OMR 0.64

$1.38 COP 4,922

21.01%

Eggs

$1.88 OMR 0.72

$2.19 COP 7,827

-14.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.86 OMR 1.48

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-12.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-25.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 OMR 3.03

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-11.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 OMR 0.89

$2.34 COP 8,349

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 OMR 0.64

$1.06 COP 3,777

56.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.71

$1.50 COP 5,374

22.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 OMR 0.43

$1.38 COP 4,924

-18.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.15 COP 4,111

-10.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 OMR 0.40

$1.16 COP 4,155

-11.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 OMR 0.42

$0.89 COP 3,182

22.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 OMR 0.20

$0.84 COP 2,997

-39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 OMR 2.49

$2.28 COP 8,145

183.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.89 OMR 6.12

$10.64 COP 38.0K

49.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.20 OMR 1.62

$1.20 COP 4,284

250.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 OMR 2.97

$2.47 COP 8,824

212.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 OMR 0.51

$0.86 COP 3,056

53.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 OMR 0.61

$1.47 COP 5,264

7.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 OMR 0.29

$1.96 COP 7,009

-61.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.25 OMR 3.94

$7.74 COP 27.6K

32.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$0.95 COP 3,409

-35.79%

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

$22.5K OMR 8,645

$18.1K COP 64.7M

23.85%

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

$21.9K OMR 8,417

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-17.46%

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

$106 OMR 40.86

$82.3 COP 293.7K

29.03%

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

$40.96 OMR 15.77

$9.50 COP 33.9K

331.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 OMR 26.96

$24.23 COP 86.5K

188.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.58 OMR 0.99

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-86.42%

Cinema Ticket

$10.32 OMR 3.97

$3.93 COP 14.0K

162.60%

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

$132 OMR 51.0

$309 COP 1.1M

-57.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,748 OMR 1,443

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-37.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.63 OMR 7.94

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-64.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.54 OMR 9.83

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-21.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.59 OMR 15.24

$103 COP 366.4K

-61.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.5 OMR 19.82

$108 COP 387.2K

-52.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 OMR 61.2

$476 COP 1.7M

-66.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.1

$379 COP 1.4M

-44.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 OMR 148

$838 COP 3.0M

-54.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 OMR 81.1

$724 COP 2.6M

-70.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,394 OMR 1,692

$512 COP 1.8M

758.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

13.43

-61.65%

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

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $159 in Ar-rustaq versus $476 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 759% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $26.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Ar-rustaq vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin 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

Ar-rustaq vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,455 per month in Ar-rustaq and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, 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 $970 in Ar-rustaq and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $132 per month in Ar-rustaq and $309 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 Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $970, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.