😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,640 in Dukhan versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,249 in Dukhan versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,858 in Dukhan versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Dukhan is roughly 64% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dukhan is 23% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73QAR 24.51
$5.91COP 18.9K
13.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.4QAR 198
$32.96COP 105.2K
64.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94QAR 25.27
$7.43COP 23.7K
-6.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.67QAR 42.47
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.02QAR 40.10
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.00QAR 18.22
$1.65COP 5,276
203.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79QAR 2.87
$1.10COP 3,514
-28.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33QAR 1.21
$0.78COP 2,491
-57.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72COP 5,484
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18COP 10.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07QAR 7.52
$1.10COP 3,521
88.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62QAR 5.89
$1.26COP 4,015
28.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11QAR 7.69
$1.38COP 4,407
52.90%
Eggs
$2.57QAR 9.35
$2.18COP 6,950
17.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.72QAR 42.68
$4.49COP 14.3K
161.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60QAR 27.65
$5.79COP 18.5K
31.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.55QAR 38.41
$8.97COP 28.6K
17.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03QAR 7.40
$2.32COP 7,405
-12.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56QAR 5.68
$1.06COP 3,397
47.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56QAR 5.69
$1.52COP 4,838
2.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38QAR 5.04
$1.36COP 4,327
1.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02QAR 3.73
$1.13COP 3,599
-9.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08QAR 3.94
$1.17COP 3,738
-7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33QAR 4.84
$0.90COP 2,876
47.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46QAR 1.67
$0.90COP 2,861
-48.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$10.26QAR 37.33
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82QAR 6.63
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90QAR 10.57
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51QAR 23.68
$2.23COP 7,128
191.93%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.12COP 38.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COP 3,793
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48COP 7,920
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85COP 2,723
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14QAR 7.80
$1.42COP 4,518
50.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17QAR 7.88
$1.95COP 6,223
11.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.76QAR 50.1
$7.89COP 25.2K
74.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57QAR 2.06
$0.99COP 3,160
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KQAR 81.6K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
27.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KQAR 75.9K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-22.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.9QAR 342
$83.0COP 264.9K
13.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.23QAR 136
$9.70COP 30.9K
283.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.1QAR 317
$23.52COP 75.0K
270.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.26COP 80.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.31QAR 44.80
$3.95COP 12.6K
211.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$789QAR 2,873
$316COP 1.0M
149.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KQAR 43.0K
$5,975COP 19.1M
97.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8QAR 229
$60.0COP 191.4K
4.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.3QAR 205
$31.82COP 101.5K
76.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102QAR 372
$102COP 324.4K
0.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6QAR 333
$107COP 342.8K
-14.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,388QAR 5,052
$475COP 1.5M
192.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908QAR 3,306
$374COP 1.2M
142.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,751QAR 6,375
$849COP 2.7M
106.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,139QAR 4,148
$719COP 2.3M
58.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dukhan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,141QAR 15.1K
$624COP 2.0M
563.13%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,388 in Dukhan and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dukhan pays 563% 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: $54.0 in Dukhan vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $193 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 in Medellin?
Dukhan and Medellin differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,640 vs $1,003 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?
Average pay runs 563% higher in Dukhan, 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,388 in Dukhan versus $475 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 8% 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 $1,640 per month in Dukhan versus $1,003 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 $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,640 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.