Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Ha'il versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,491 in Ha'il versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,940 in Ha'il versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ha'il is roughly 4% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ha'il22% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57SAR 24.68
$5.91COP 18.6K
11.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.76SAR 96.8
$32.96COP 103.8K
-21.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.13SAR 26.76
$7.43COP 23.4K
-4.04%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.09SAR 4.09
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10SAR 7.88
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.27SAR 12.26
$1.65COP 5,207
98.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01SAR 3.78
$1.10COP 3,468
-8.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32SAR 1.20
$0.78COP 2,458
-58.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72COP 5,412
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18COP 10.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SAR 6.56
$1.10COP 3,474
59.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81SAR 3.03
$1.26COP 3,962
-35.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91SAR 7.18
$1.38COP 4,349
38.41%
Eggs
$1.95SAR 7.31
$2.18COP 6,858
-10.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.63SAR 24.89
$4.49COP 14.1K
47.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92SAR 33.48
$5.79COP 18.2K
54.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48SAR 31.86
$8.97COP 28.2K
-5.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.83
$2.32COP 7,308
-33.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52SAR 5.69
$1.06COP 3,352
43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.72
$1.52COP 4,774
-17.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02SAR 7.60
$1.36COP 4,270
48.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.04
$1.13COP 3,552
18.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.85
$1.17COP 3,689
33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06SAR 3.97
$0.90COP 2,838
17.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49SAR 1.85
$0.90COP 2,823
-45.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.43SAR 9.11
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68SAR 6.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SAR 7.82
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.02SAR 26.34
$2.23COP 7,034
214.80%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COP 3,743
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48COP 7,815
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08SAR 4.07
$0.85COP 2,687
27.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.94SAR 150
$41.62COP 131.0K
-4.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70SAR 10.16
$1.42COP 4,459
90.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.83
$1.95COP 6,141
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.09SAR 49.14
$7.89COP 24.8K
65.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.23
$0.99COP 3,118
-40.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KSAR 102.0K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
54.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.3K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-15.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.0SAR 203
$83.0COP 261.4K
-34.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.59SAR 81.1
$9.70COP 30.5K
122.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.03SAR 173
$23.52COP 74.1K
95.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.3SAR 249
$25.26COP 79.5K
162.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.21SAR 136
$19.10COP 60.1K
89.58%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70SAR 55.2
$3.95COP 12.4K
272.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$352SAR 1,320
$316COP 994.2K
11.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,085SAR 26.6K
$5,975COP 18.8M
18.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2SAR 222
$60.0COP 188.9K
-1.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.4SAR 227
$31.82COP 100.2K
89.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9SAR 292
$102COP 320.1K
-23.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6SAR 303
$107COP 338.3K
-24.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$498SAR 1,871
$475COP 1.5M
4.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330SAR 1,241
$374COP 1.2M
-11.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440SAR 1,651
$849COP 2.7M
-48.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361SAR 1,355
$719COP 2.3M
-49.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,366SAR 8,885
$3,265COP 10.3M
-27.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,332SAR 5,001
$1,441COP 4.5M
-7.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,064SAR 3,994
$624COP 2.0M
70.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
13.43
-67.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ha'il: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Ha'il and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ha'il pays 70% 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: $26.00 in Ha'il vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $193 per month, with Ha'il 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
Ha'il vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ha'il or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Ha'il. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ha'il or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 70% higher in Ha'il, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ha'il compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $498 in Ha'il versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ha'il and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $352 in Ha'il versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ha'il or in Medellin?
Shoppers in Ha'il pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ha'il or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,041 in Ha'il, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ha'il. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ha'il or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Ha'il compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Ha'il 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ha'il. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.