😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,667 in Dukhan versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,265 in Dukhan versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,862 in Dukhan versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Dukhan is roughly 64% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dukhan is 24% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00QAR 25.49
$5.95COP 20.8K
17.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.9QAR 203
$33.33COP 116.3K
67.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.77QAR 24.66
$7.23COP 25.2K
-6.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.67QAR 42.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.94QAR 39.84
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.01QAR 18.23
$1.63COP 5,687
207.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78QAR 2.84
$1.09COP 3,821
-28.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31QAR 1.12
$0.73COP 2,548
-57.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74COP 6,065
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06QAR 7.50
$1.05COP 3,662
96.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55QAR 5.66
$1.29COP 4,515
20.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15QAR 7.82
$1.32COP 4,617
62.88%
Eggs
$2.57QAR 9.37
$2.27COP 7,927
13.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.45QAR 41.68
$4.35COP 15.2K
163.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85QAR 28.57
$5.88COP 20.5K
33.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51QAR 38.26
$8.61COP 30.0K
22.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04QAR 7.44
$2.25COP 7,844
-9.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61QAR 5.86
$1.07COP 3,733
50.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57QAR 5.72
$1.52COP 5,322
3.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45QAR 5.29
$1.42COP 4,964
2.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02QAR 3.73
$1.17COP 4,084
-12.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13QAR 4.10
$1.17COP 4,077
-3.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34QAR 4.86
$0.89COP 3,096
50.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45QAR 1.63
$0.90COP 3,146
-50.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$9.58QAR 34.87
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80QAR 6.55
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94QAR 10.70
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50QAR 23.66
$2.25COP 7,837
188.89%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COP 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14COP 3,977
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38COP 8,301
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26QAR 8.24
$1.41COP 4,912
60.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24QAR 8.15
$1.90COP 6,634
17.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.83QAR 50.4
$7.75COP 27.0K
78.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.56QAR 2.05
$1.01COP 3,509
-44.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KQAR 83.1K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
29.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KQAR 75.1K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-22.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.6QAR 337
$83.7COP 292.1K
10.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.16QAR 135
$9.45COP 33.0K
293.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.0QAR 317
$24.11COP 84.1K
260.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.25QAR 44.59
$4.10COP 14.3K
198.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$802QAR 2,919
$312COP 1.1M
157.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KQAR 42.7K
$5,993COP 20.9M
95.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4QAR 223
$58.0COP 202.6K
5.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9QAR 203
$32.56COP 113.6K
71.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100.0QAR 364
$99.6COP 347.7K
0.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8QAR 327
$109COP 378.8K
-17.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,395QAR 5,077
$482COP 1.7M
189.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$931QAR 3,389
$379COP 1.3M
145.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,734QAR 6,312
$837COP 2.9M
107.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,167QAR 4,248
$723COP 2.5M
61.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,044QAR 14.7K
$541COP 1.9M
647.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
13.43
-54.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dukhan: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,395 in Dukhan and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dukhan pays 648% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Dukhan vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Dukhan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dukhan and Medellin?
Dukhan and Medellin differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,667 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Dukhan or Medellin?
Dukhan pays 648% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Dukhan and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,395 in Dukhan versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Dukhan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dukhan or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,667 per month in Dukhan versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,667 in Dukhan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dukhan. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dukhan and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Dukhan or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dukhan 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.
Where should expats move: Dukhan or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Dukhan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.