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 $934 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Ar-rustaq sits 32% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 OMR 2.03

$8.04 COP 24.9K

-34.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.12 OMR 13.13

$48.29 COP 149.7K

-29.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 OMR 2.93

$9.42 COP 29.2K

-19.21%

Cappuccino

$4.88 OMR 1.88

$2.94 COP 9,105

65.99%

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

$0.85 OMR 0.33

$1.86 COP 5,776

-54.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 OMR 0.11

$1.46 COP 4,511

-80.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.01 OMR 5.01

$3.21 COP 9,953

305.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.14 OMR 5.06

$5.71 COP 17.7K

130.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 OMR 0.87

$1.44 COP 4,460

57.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 OMR 0.49

$2.40 COP 7,442

-46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 OMR 0.70

$1.70 COP 5,265

7.65%

Eggs

$2.86 OMR 1.10

$2.89 COP 8,960

-1.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 OMR 2.88

$10.06 COP 31.2K

-25.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 OMR 2.58

$9.97 COP 30.9K

-32.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 OMR 4.08

$14.20 COP 44.0K

-25.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 OMR 1.35

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-11.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 OMR 0.77

$1.58 COP 4,913

26.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 OMR 0.93

$2.15 COP 6,671

12.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 OMR 0.46

$2.30 COP 7,129

-48.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 OMR 0.47

$2.00 COP 6,213

-39.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 OMR 0.48

$1.51 COP 4,679

-17.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 OMR 0.71

$1.20 COP 3,727

54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 OMR 0.24

$1.28 COP 3,974

-51.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 OMR 2.43

$3.84 COP 11.9K

64.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.53 OMR 5.98

$14.01 COP 43.4K

10.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 OMR 2.09

$1.71 COP 5,294

217.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 OMR 3.47

$2.74 COP 8,500

228.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,861

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 241.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 OMR 1.23

$1.31 COP 4,045

143.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 OMR 1.03

$2.17 COP 6,728

23.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 OMR 3.09

$8.29 COP 25.7K

-3.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 OMR 0.23

$1.36 COP 4,202

-55.15%

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

$25.2K OMR 9,695

$27.5K COP 85.2M

-8.34%

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

$22.4K OMR 8,606

$36.5K COP 113.2M

-38.82%

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

$174 OMR 66.9

$169 COP 523.0K

2.95%

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

$30.45 OMR 11.72

$13.57 COP 42.1K

124.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 OMR 26.60

$28.32 COP 87.8K

144.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 141.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 OMR 3.99

$6.65 COP 20.6K

55.94%

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

$288 OMR 111

$803 COP 2.5M

-64.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K OMR 4,064

$9,190 COP 28.5M

14.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 OMR 21.44

$87.4 COP 270.8K

-36.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 OMR 16.70

$59.4 COP 184.0K

-26.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 OMR 34.47

$139 COP 430.5K

-35.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 OMR 37.44

$102 COP 316.3K

-4.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,389 OMR 1,690

$655 COP 2.0M

570.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

10.94

-52.01%

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

Last update for Ar-rustaq: September 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 570% 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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $300 – making Ar-rustaq the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 76%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,401 per month in Ar-rustaq and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $934 in Ar-rustaq and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $288 per month in Ar-rustaq and $803 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 $934, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.