🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,172 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,793 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,414 in Hafar Al Batin versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Hafar Al Batin costs roughly 29% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hafar Al Batin is 15% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.38SAR 23.96
$8.04COP 24.8K
-20.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.50SAR 141
$48.29COP 148.6K
-22.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96SAR 29.91
$9.42COP 29.0K
-15.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.50
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.34SAR 12.54
$2.94COP 9,040
13.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85SAR 3.20
$1.86COP 5,735
-54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27SAR 1.00
$1.46COP 4,479
-81.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.21COP 9,882
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.71COP 17.6K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94SAR 7.30
$1.44COP 4,428
34.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21SAR 4.54
$2.40COP 7,389
-49.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15SAR 8.06
$1.70COP 5,228
26.47%
Eggs
$2.38SAR 8.94
$2.89COP 8,896
-17.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.60SAR 28.53
$10.06COP 30.9K
-24.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.92SAR 29.73
$9.97COP 30.7K
-20.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.73SAR 47.80
$14.20COP 43.7K
-10.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15SAR 8.08
$3.98COP 12.3K
-45.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.58COP 4,878
7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.87
$2.15COP 6,624
-27.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$2.30COP 7,078
-29.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13SAR 4.23
$2.00COP 6,169
-43.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.89
$1.51COP 4,646
-13.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19SAR 4.47
$1.20COP 3,701
-0.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56SAR 2.10
$1.28COP 3,946
-56.25%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.82SAR 10.58
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SAR 6.38
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SAR 7.78
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58SAR 24.72
$3.84COP 11.8K
71.35%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71COP 5,256
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.74COP 8,440
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99SAR 3.71
$1.25COP 3,834
-20.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.25SAR 121
$77.9COP 239.7K
-58.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32SAR 12.47
$1.31COP 4,016
153.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76SAR 6.61
$2.17COP 6,680
-18.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.58SAR 54.8
$8.29COP 25.5K
75.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62SAR 2.33
$1.36COP 4,172
-54.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.7KSAR 190.4K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
84.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-36.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108SAR 406
$169COP 519.2K
-35.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.43SAR 114
$13.57COP 41.8K
124.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9SAR 251
$28.32COP 87.2K
136.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.0SAR 289
$45.71COP 140.7K
68.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.40SAR 144
$17.22COP 53.0K
123.00%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13SAR 53.1
$6.65COP 20.5K
112.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$392SAR 1,471
$803COP 2.5M
-51.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,339SAR 23.8K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-31.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.58SAR 182
$87.4COP 268.8K
-44.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.4SAR 238
$59.4COP 182.7K
6.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SAR 397
$139COP 427.5K
-23.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9SAR 323
$102COP 314.0K
-15.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538SAR 2,020
$1,071COP 3.3M
-49.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$351SAR 1,318
$653COP 2.0M
-46.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891SAR 3,345
$1,925COP 5.9M
-53.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632SAR 2,372
$1,048COP 3.2M
-39.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,623SAR 9,852
$4,123COP 12.7M
-36.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,195SAR 4,488
$1,697COP 5.2M
-29.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hafar Al Batin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,417SAR 5,320
$655COP 2.0M
116.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
10.94
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hafar Al Batin: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Hafar Al Batin and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hafar Al Batin pays 116% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Hafar Al Batin vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $300 per month, with Hafar Al Batin 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
Hafar Al Batin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hafar Al Batin or Medellin?
Hafar Al Batin wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hafar Al Batin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hafar Al Batin or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 116% higher in Hafar Al Batin, 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 Hafar Al Batin compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $538 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Hafar Al Batin and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $392 in Hafar Al Batin versus $803 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Hafar Al Batin or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% 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 Hafar Al Batin or in Medellin?
At $1,172 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hafar Al Batin but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hafar Al Batin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hafar Al Batin or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hafar Al Batin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,172 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hafar Al Batin hard to pass up.
How safe is Hafar Al Batin compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Hafar Al Batin 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 Hafar Al Batin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Hafar Al Batin vs other spots: cost of living compared