Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibague and Qatif Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibague and Qatif

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,145 in Ibague versus $1,080 in Qatif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Ibague versus $1,638 in Qatif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,591 in Ibague versus $2,196 in Qatif.

Living in Ibague is roughly 6% more expensive than in Qatif, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibague 16% lower, Qatif 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 COP 25.4K

$3.56 SAR 13.38

128.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 COP 130.7K

$35.17 SAR 132

19.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 COP 24.5K

$6.67 SAR 25.07

17.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

Cappuccino

$1.58 COP 4,919

$2.95 SAR 11.07

-46.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 3,580

$0.73 SAR 2.73

57.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 COP 2,488

$0.15 SAR 0.58

433.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 COP 4,469

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 COP 3,614

$1.76 SAR 6.61

-34.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,634

$0.94 SAR 3.53

160.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 COP 3,563

$1.95 SAR 7.31

-41.54%

Eggs

$2.30 COP 7,172

$2.11 SAR 7.93

9.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 COP 25.2K

$5.70 SAR 21.42

41.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.09 COP 22.1K

$7.80 SAR 29.31

-9.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 COP 33.3K

$12.98 SAR 48.76

-17.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 COP 11.1K

$2.18 SAR 8.20

62.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 COP 3,062

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-43.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 COP 4,487

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-9.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 COP 5,480

$0.64 SAR 2.39

175.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 COP 2,572

$1.12 SAR 4.21

-26.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 COP 2,388

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,636

$0.91 SAR 3.41

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,673

$0.50 SAR 1.89

136.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 COP 14.3K

$6.62 SAR 24.85

-30.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.84 COP 40.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 COP 4,446

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 COP 9,385

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,382

$1.04 SAR 3.91

3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 COP 199.9K

$36.12 SAR 136

77.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 COP 4,272

$2.36 SAR 8.86

-41.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 COP 1,225

$0.51 SAR 1.92

-23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 COP 6,899

$13.10 SAR 49.20

-83.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,066

$0.61 SAR 2.30

113.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.9K COP 65.3M

$35.8K SAR 134.6K

-41.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.2K COP 112.8M

$20.8K SAR 78.2K

73.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.40 COP 129.2K

$103 SAR 388

-59.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.86 COP 30.8K

$33.42 SAR 126

-70.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.72 COP 45.9K

$58.3 SAR 219

-74.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.77 COP 89.8K

$82.7 SAR 311

-65.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.55 SAR 141

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 COP 15.3K

$13.21 SAR 49.60

-62.83%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$488 COP 1.5M

$270 SAR 1,015

80.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,634 COP 20.7M

$7,795 SAR 29.3K

-14.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.41 COP 79.3K

$31.48 SAR 118

-19.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.52 COP 154.5K

$20.90 SAR 78.5

136.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 COP 251.2K

$94.6 SAR 355

-14.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 COP 359.8K

$90.4 SAR 340

27.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 COP 2.1M

$574 SAR 2,157

19.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 COP 1.5M

$346 SAR 1,298

39.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 COP 3.3M

$873 SAR 3,281

19.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$976 COP 3.0M

$547 SAR 2,055

78.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,008 COP 6.3M

$951 SAR 3,573

111.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,693 COP 5.3M

$783 SAR 2,942

116.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$640 COP 2.0M

$2,249 SAR 8,448

-71.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.81

5.5

132.91%

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

Last update for Ibague: September 14, 2026

Last update for Qatif: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $686 in Ibague and $574 in Qatif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 252% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Ibague vs $35.00 in Qatif for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $184 per month, with Qatif 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

Ibague vs Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 252% lower in Qatif. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $686 in Ibague versus $574 in Qatif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,145 per month in Ibague versus $1,080 in Qatif – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Qatif runs roughly 77% less than in Ibague. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,080 in Qatif versus $1,145 in Ibague, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Qatif but tight or insufficient in Ibague. The gap between the two cities makes Qatif the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Qatif is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ibague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ibague and Qatif are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Qatif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Ibague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.