Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Ha’il: $1,073 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
Medellin, Colombia
Ha'il
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,073
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ha'il and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ha'il and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,073 in Ha’il versus $1,692 in Medellin.

  • Ha'il $1,073
  • Medellin $1,692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,623 in Ha’il versus $2,471 in Medellin.

  • Ha'il $1,623
  • Medellin $2,471

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,174 in Ha’il versus $3,249 in Medellin.

  • Ha'il $2,174
  • Medellin $3,249

Living in Ha’il costs roughly 37% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ha’il is 21% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.40 SAR 20.28
$8.34 COP 26.9K
-35.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.86 SAR 138
$46.53 COP 150.3K
-20.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.91 SAR 22.17
$9.47 COP 30.6K
-37.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 SAR 4.38
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 SAR 8.32
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.60 SAR 9.77
$3.13 COP 10.1K
-16.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 SAR 2.30
$1.77 COP 5,705
-65.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 SAR 0.86
$1.42 COP 4,601
-83.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.70 COP 18.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 SAR 6.34
$1.53 COP 4,950
10.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 SAR 3.21
$2.29 COP 7,401
-62.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 SAR 7.05
$1.94 COP 6,282
-3.09%
Eggs
$1.93 SAR 7.26
$3.07 COP 9,905
-37.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.68 SAR 25.08
$9.99 COP 32.3K
-33.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.88 SAR 33.31
$10.45 COP 33.7K
-15.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.15 SAR 30.58
$13.96 COP 45.1K
-41.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 SAR 5.59
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-63.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 SAR 5.70
$1.53 COP 4,937
-0.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 SAR 4.77
$2.10 COP 6,797
-39.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.94 SAR 7.28
$2.29 COP 7,409
-15.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 SAR 4.85
$2.11 COP 6,813
-38.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 SAR 6.05
$1.71 COP 5,521
-5.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 SAR 4.61
$1.17 COP 3,780
5.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 SAR 1.79
$1.58 COP 5,104
-69.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.64 SAR 9.92
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 SAR 6.47
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 SAR 6.78
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.77 SAR 25.42
$3.91 COP 12.6K
73.15%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.04 COP 45.4K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76 COP 5,690
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71 COP 8,760
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 SAR 3.43
$1.18 COP 3,811
-22.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.03 SAR 135
$76.3 COP 246.4K
-52.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 SAR 10.04
$1.81 COP 5,836
47.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 SAR 6.65
$2.13 COP 6,878
-16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.27 SAR 49.82
$8.13 COP 26.3K
63.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.41
$1.28 COP 4,119
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K SAR 116.5K
$34.4K COP 111.2M
-9.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K SAR 81.8K
$34.1K COP 110.3M
-36.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.8 SAR 198
$178 COP 574.1K
-70.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.29 SAR 79.9
$13.89 COP 44.9K
53.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.84 SAR 172
$30.74 COP 99.3K
49.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.0 SAR 248
$41.94 COP 135.5K
57.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.26 SAR 98.6
$16.80 COP 54.3K
56.31%
Cinema Ticket
$14.67 SAR 55.1
$7.47 COP 24.1K
96.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$419 SAR 1,571
$790 COP 2.6M
-47.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K SAR 45.5K
$12.3K COP 39.7M
-1.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92 SAR 161
$86.3 COP 278.9K
-50.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 SAR 208
$59.3 COP 191.4K
-6.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 SAR 367
$138 COP 446.9K
-29.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.5 SAR 313
$98.8 COP 319.2K
-15.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 SAR 904
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-82.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 SAR 1,525
$667 COP 2.2M
-39.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$361 SAR 1,355
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-81.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 SAR 2,321
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-40.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,982 SAR 7,437
$4,098 COP 13.2M
-51.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,201 SAR 4,507
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-38.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,081 SAR 4,056
$646 COP 2.1M
67.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.54
10.94
-49.36%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ha'il: November 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
$406
Medellin
$667 64.1% $261
Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
$179
Medellin
$307 72.1% $129
Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
$126
Medellin
$172 36.8% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
$120
Medellin
$222 85.3% $102
Eating Out
Ha'il
$96
Medellin
$173 80.7% $77
Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
$95
Medellin
$57 40.3% $38
Getting Around
Ha'il
$51
Medellin
$93 82.5% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Ha’il and $1,341 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ha’il pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37 in Ha’il vs $47 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $307 per month, with Ha’il cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Ha'il
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:08 12:08 PM
04:08 4:08 AM
8 h behind Ha'il
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
310,897
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ha'il Medellin 12,310 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ha'il
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Ha’il wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ha’il the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ha’il or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 67% 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: $241 in Ha’il versus $1,341 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 $419 in Ha’il versus $790 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ha’il or in Medellin?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ha’il is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ha’il or 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ha’il gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ha'il vs other spots: cost of living compared

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