🙂A single person spends $737 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Baghdadi vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,537 per month in Baghdadi vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Baghdadi is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Baghdadi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Baghdadi45% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.88IQD 6,388
$5.95COP 20.8K
-17.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.69IQD 21.9K
$33.33COP 116.3K
-49.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.90IQD 9,042
$7.23COP 25.2K
-4.56%
Cappuccino
$1.76IQD 2,308
$1.63COP 5,687
7.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42IQD 549
$1.09COP 3,821
-61.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24IQD 313
$0.73COP 2,548
-67.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92IQD 3,827
$1.74COP 6,065
67.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85IQD 3,735
$3.23COP 11.3K
-11.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14IQD 1,490
$1.05COP 3,662
8.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63IQD 826
$1.29COP 4,515
-51.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24IQD 2,935
$1.32COP 4,617
69.70%
Eggs
$1.69IQD 2,219
$2.27COP 7,927
-25.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.74IQD 7,517
$4.35COP 15.2K
31.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.38IQD 5,735
$5.88COP 20.5K
-25.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.05IQD 11.9K
$8.61COP 30.0K
5.11%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97IQD 1,273
$2.25COP 7,844
-56.89%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98IQD 1,288
$1.07COP 3,733
-8.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,328
$1.52COP 5,322
-33.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57IQD 744
$1.42COP 4,964
-59.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56IQD 737
$1.17COP 4,084
-52.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63IQD 829
$1.17COP 4,077
-46.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70IQD 920
$0.89COP 3,096
-21.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48IQD 629
$0.90COP 3,146
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80IQD 2,357
$2.25COP 7,837
-20.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.12IQD 19.8K
$11.04COP 38.5K
36.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82IQD 2,385
$1.14COP 3,977
59.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16IQD 2,826
$2.38COP 8,301
-9.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 477
$0.84COP 2,916
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.64IQD 40.1K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-26.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.31IQD 3,030
$1.41COP 4,912
63.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48IQD 1,932
$1.90COP 6,634
-22.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98IQD 7,835
$7.75COP 27.0K
-22.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 740
$1.01COP 3,509
-43.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3KIQD 25.2M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
9.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KIQD 26.4M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-23.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.4IQD 101.4K
$83.7COP 292.1K
-7.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.78IQD 23.3K
$9.45COP 33.0K
88.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.54IQD 45.2K
$24.11COP 84.1K
43.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.46IQD 47.7K
$25.31COP 88.3K
44.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04IQD 22.3K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-10.97%
Cinema Ticket
$7.75IQD 10.2K
$4.10COP 14.3K
89.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$149IQD 194.9K
$312COP 1.1M
-52.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,218IQD 4.2M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-46.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.30IQD 35.7K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-52.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.13IQD 32.9K
$32.56COP 113.6K
-22.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.7IQD 79.5K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-39.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.54IQD 54.4K
$109COP 378.8K
-61.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242IQD 317.1K
$482COP 1.7M
-49.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182IQD 237.7K
$379COP 1.3M
-52.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584IQD 765.4K
$837COP 2.9M
-30.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345IQD 452.2K
$723COP 2.5M
-52.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,524IQD 2.0M
$2,840COP 9.9M
-46.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$506IQD 662.5K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-58.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baghdadi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$498IQD 652.7K
$541COP 1.9M
-7.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
13.43
-57.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baghdadi: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Baghdadi versus $482 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 9% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Baghdadi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $190 – making Baghdadi 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
Baghdadi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Baghdadi?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,106 per month in Baghdadi and $1,525 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 Baghdadi, 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 Baghdadi vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $737 in Baghdadi and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Baghdadi or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $737, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Baghdadi or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. 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.