🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $435 in El Faiyum versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $732 in El Faiyum versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,028 in El Faiyum versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in El Faiyum costs roughly 57% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Faiyum68% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31E£120
$5.99COP 21.3K
-61.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.75E£712
$32.86COP 116.9K
-58.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70E£243
$7.09COP 25.2K
-33.71%
Cappuccino
$1.24E£64.2
$1.71COP 6,093
-27.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31E£16.30
$1.10COP 3,910
-71.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10E£5.06
$0.78COP 2,771
-87.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16E£60.2
$1.68COP 5,976
-30.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02E£157
$3.07COP 10.9K
-1.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72E£37.20
$1.09COP 3,892
-33.94%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78E£40.39
$1.26COP 4,492
-38.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66E£34.02
$1.38COP 4,905
-52.17%
Eggs
$1.19E£61.8
$2.19COP 7,799
-45.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.95E£153
$4.40COP 15.7K
-32.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.46E£231
$5.63COP 20.0K
-20.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.21E£425
$8.89COP 31.6K
-7.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49E£77.3
$2.34COP 8,319
-36.32%
Banana(1kg)
$0.54E£27.94
$1.06COP 3,764
-49.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.43E£22.05
$1.50COP 5,355
-71.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.36E£18.78
$1.38COP 4,906
-73.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38E£19.59
$1.15COP 4,097
-66.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43E£22.21
$1.16COP 4,141
-62.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24E£12.45
$0.89COP 3,170
-73.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17E£8.73
$0.84COP 2,986
-79.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02E£104
$2.28COP 8,116
-11.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66E£293
$10.64COP 37.9K
-46.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34E£69.4
$1.20COP 4,268
11.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29E£119
$2.47COP 8,793
-7.29%
🚌 Getting Around
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.06E£2.89
$0.86COP 3,045
-93.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.09E£316
$41.40COP 147.3K
-85.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42E£21.95
$1.47COP 5,245
-71.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29E£14.89
$1.96COP 6,984
-85.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.94E£48.90
$7.74COP 27.5K
-87.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£17.34
$0.95COP 3,397
-65.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KE£1.8M
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
96.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KE£1.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
24.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.20E£580
$82.3COP 292.7K
-86.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.75E£297
$9.50COP 33.8K
-39.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.96E£515
$24.23COP 86.2K
-58.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.46E£1,318
$25.89COP 92.1K
-1.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.58E£1,324
$19.00COP 67.6K
34.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.39E£124
$3.93COP 14.0K
-39.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$25.66E£1,328
$309COP 1.1M
-91.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$879E£45.5K
$5,965COP 21.2M
-85.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.77E£1,438
$58.7COP 208.7K
-52.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38E£2,298
$32.35COP 115.1K
37.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107E£5,552
$103COP 365.1K
4.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.03E£2,435
$108COP 385.8K
-56.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$188E£9,732
$476COP 1.7M
-60.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$85.5E£4,424
$379COP 1.3M
-77.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327E£17.0K
$838COP 3.0M
-60.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185E£9,574
$724COP 2.6M
-74.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$411E£21.3K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-85.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$201E£10.4K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-83.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Faiyum
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$70.6E£3,654
$512COP 1.8M
-86.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
13.43
-55.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Faiyum: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $188 in El Faiyum and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 625% 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: $14.00 in El Faiyum vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $120 vs $188 per month, with El Faiyum 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
El Faiyum vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than El Faiyum?
El Faiyum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 133% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: El Faiyum or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 625% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between El Faiyum and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $188 in El Faiyum versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in El Faiyum runs roughly 580% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $25.66 in El Faiyum versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for El Faiyum or Medellin?
At $435 in El Faiyum versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Faiyum but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes El Faiyum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is El Faiyum or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, El Faiyum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, El Faiyum or Medellin?
Safety-wise, El Faiyum 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Faiyum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 133% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.