🙂A single person spends $966 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,335 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,705 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Ar-rustaq is about 6% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ar-rustaq and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ar-rustaq28% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13OMR 1.97
$6.16COP 20.1K
-16.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59OMR 9.85
$32.60COP 106.1K
-21.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.95OMR 3.06
$7.34COP 23.9K
8.31%
Cappuccino
$4.75OMR 1.83
$1.72COP 5,600
176.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50OMR 0.19
$1.05COP 3,420
-52.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$0.77COP 2,515
-64.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.36OMR 4.76
$1.69COP 5,488
631.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.66OMR 4.49
$3.17COP 10.3K
267.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93OMR 0.74
$1.05COP 3,423
83.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22OMR 0.47
$1.30COP 4,236
-6.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68OMR 0.65
$1.40COP 4,544
20.00%
Eggs
$1.91OMR 0.73
$2.16COP 7,047
-11.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.67OMR 1.41
$4.39COP 14.3K
-16.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.26OMR 1.64
$5.88COP 19.1K
-27.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.72OMR 2.97
$8.64COP 28.1K
-10.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28OMR 0.88
$2.28COP 7,426
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.75OMR 0.67
$1.11COP 3,604
57.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84OMR 0.71
$1.53COP 4,983
20.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12OMR 0.43
$1.35COP 4,410
-17.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95OMR 0.37
$1.13COP 3,674
-15.93%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99OMR 0.38
$1.13COP 3,692
-12.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04OMR 0.40
$0.85COP 2,753
22.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53OMR 0.21
$0.91COP 2,975
-41.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48OMR 2.49
$2.34COP 7,630
176.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.88OMR 6.11
$12.37COP 40.3K
28.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.20OMR 1.62
$1.20COP 3,909
250.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.62OMR 2.93
$2.49COP 8,104
206.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.26OMR 0.49
$0.84COP 2,728
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.58OMR 0.61
$1.42COP 4,623
11.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80OMR 0.31
$1.92COP 6,235
-58.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.47OMR 4.03
$7.66COP 24.9K
36.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64OMR 0.25
$0.99COP 3,223
-35.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KOMR 8,649
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
24.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KOMR 8,261
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-19.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106OMR 40.84
$80.8COP 263.1K
31.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.86OMR 15.73
$9.95COP 32.4K
310.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3OMR 26.69
$24.18COP 78.7K
186.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.08COP 81.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.56OMR 0.98
$19.15COP 62.3K
-86.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.45OMR 4.02
$3.98COP 13.0K
162.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129OMR 49.74
$305COP 993.5K
-57.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,739OMR 1,439
$6,059COP 19.7M
-38.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.56OMR 7.92
$58.1COP 189.2K
-64.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.17OMR 10.07
$32.20COP 104.8K
-18.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.16OMR 15.07
$101COP 327.9K
-61.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4OMR 20.17
$108COP 350.8K
-51.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154OMR 59.2
$477COP 1.6M
-67.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$208OMR 80.1
$376COP 1.2M
-44.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$397OMR 153
$845COP 2.7M
-53.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$212OMR 81.5
$730COP 2.4M
-71.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rustaq
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,373OMR 1,683
$617COP 2.0M
608.98%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $154 in Ar-rustaq versus $477 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 609% 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 – $220 in Ar-rustaq vs $193 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
Is Medellin cheaper than Ar-rustaq?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,449 per month in Ar-rustaq and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Ar-rustaq and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $966 in Ar-rustaq and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $129 per month in Ar-rustaq and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ar-rustaq or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ar-rustaq or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ar-rustaq or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.