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: $603 in Ibague versus $1,057 in Qatif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $927 in Ibague versus $1,683 in Qatif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,251 in Ibague versus $2,308 in Qatif.

Living in Ibague costs roughly 43% less than in Qatif, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibague 55% lower, Qatif 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 COP 16.1K

$3.41 SAR 12.78

38.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 COP 73.9K

$48.84 SAR 183

-55.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 COP 16.6K

$8.03 SAR 30.13

-39.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.20

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

Cappuccino

$1.00 COP 3,419

$3.57 SAR 13.40

-71.99%

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

$0.99 COP 3,407

$0.76 SAR 2.87

30.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 COP 2,259

$0.26 SAR 0.97

153.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 COP 2,611

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 COP 7,256

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 COP 3,978

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-32.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 COP 2,392

$0.83 SAR 3.11

-15.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 COP 2,426

$2.11 SAR 7.93

-66.35%

Eggs

$1.95 COP 6,678

$2.23 SAR 8.35

-12.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.70 COP 16.1K

$6.30 SAR 23.63

-25.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 COP 12.5K

$7.33 SAR 27.52

-50.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 COP 16.3K

$10.15 SAR 38.08

-53.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 COP 9,864

$2.09 SAR 7.83

37.80%

Banana (1kg)

$0.50 COP 1,712

$1.48 SAR 5.57

-66.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 COP 2,575

$1.44 SAR 5.40

-47.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.46 COP 1,589

$0.71 SAR 2.65

-35.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 COP 1,592

$1.28 SAR 4.81

-64.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 COP 1,274

$1.38 SAR 5.18

-73.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 COP 1,607

$1.10 SAR 4.13

-57.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 COP 1,393

$0.51 SAR 1.91

-19.61%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.07

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 COP 9,532

$7.84 SAR 29.43

-64.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 COP 35.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 COP 1,584

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 COP 2,172

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 COP 2,308

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-38.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.62 SAR 149

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,026

$3.15 SAR 11.84

-53.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 COP 5,263

$1.56 SAR 5.85

-1.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 COP 8,527

$13.37 SAR 50.2

-81.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,335

$0.63 SAR 2.37

53.97%

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

$15.4K COP 52.9M

$22.6K SAR 84.9K

-31.76%

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

$24.7K COP 84.5M

$20.2K SAR 75.7K

22.22%

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

$46.87 COP 160.6K

$106 SAR 396

-55.62%

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

$5.99 COP 20.5K

$36.23 SAR 136

-83.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.65 COP 74.2K

$59.2 SAR 222

-63.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.76 COP 146.6K

$94.6 SAR 355

-54.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$57.5 SAR 216

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 COP 12.9K

$15.54 SAR 58.3

-75.74%

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

$61.2 COP 209.7K

$401 SAR 1,505

-84.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,408 COP 8.3M

$8,166 SAR 30.6K

-70.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 199.0K

$51.6 SAR 194

12.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.78 COP 146.6K

$50.8 SAR 191

-15.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 COP 291.5K

$90.1 SAR 338

-5.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.8 COP 204.8K

$86.8 SAR 326

-31.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 COP 787.7K

$356 SAR 1,336

-35.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 COP 491.1K

$285 SAR 1,070

-49.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$405 COP 1.4M

$703 SAR 2,639

-42.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 COP 727.1K

$495 SAR 1,856

-57.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,324 COP 4.5M

$970 SAR 3,639

36.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$941 COP 3.2M

$795 SAR 2,983

18.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$506 COP 1.7M

$2,237 SAR 8,396

-77.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.93

4.33

198.61%

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

Last update for Ibague: June 14, 2026

Last update for Qatif: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Ibague and $356 in Qatif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 342% 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: $22.00 in Ibague vs $49.00 in Qatif for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 vs $175 per month, with Ibague 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

Ibague is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Qatif earns 342% less. 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: $230 in Ibague versus $356 in Qatif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Qatif. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $603 per month in Ibague versus $1,057 in Qatif – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $603 in Ibague versus $1,057 in Qatif, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibague but tight or insufficient in Qatif. The gap between the two cities makes Ibague the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ibague is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Qatif, 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 Ibague gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Qatif. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.