🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,263 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,157 in Janub-as-surrah versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,051 in Janub-as-surrah versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Janub-as-surrah costs roughly 25% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Janub-as-surrah is 8% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.08KWD 2.79
$8.02COP 25.0K
13.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.0KWD 19.34
$47.87COP 149.4K
31.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.74KWD 2.68
$9.89COP 30.8K
-11.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35KWD 1.03
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62KWD 1.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.56KWD 1.71
$3.13COP 9,767
77.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58KWD 0.18
$1.91COP 5,954
-69.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32KWD 0.10
$1.51COP 4,712
-78.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12COP 9,747
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17KWD 0.36
$1.44COP 4,509
-18.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83KWD 0.26
$2.49COP 7,759
-66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11KWD 0.65
$1.77COP 5,535
19.21%
Eggs
$2.18KWD 0.67
$2.96COP 9,235
-26.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.14KWD 1.27
$10.07COP 31.4K
-58.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24KWD 1.91
$10.12COP 31.6K
-38.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.49KWD 3.22
$14.30COP 44.6K
-26.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41KWD 0.74
$4.14COP 12.9K
-41.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73KWD 0.53
$1.61COP 5,019
7.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28KWD 0.39
$2.25COP 7,007
-43.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36KWD 0.42
$2.25COP 7,028
-39.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23KWD 0.38
$2.04COP 6,375
-39.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97KWD 0.30
$1.54COP 4,790
-37.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62KWD 0.50
$1.17COP 3,651
38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53KWD 0.16
$1.31COP 4,077
-59.54%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.88KWD 0.88
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48KWD 0.45
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74KWD 0.84
$3.90COP 12.2K
-29.74%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74COP 5,439
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87COP 8,956
-
🚌 Getting Around
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78KWD 0.24
$1.22COP 3,792
-36.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17KWD 0.97
$1.31COP 4,084
141.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.15KWD 0.97
$2.19COP 6,825
43.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.10KWD 4.94
$8.71COP 27.2K
84.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34KWD 0.11
$1.37COP 4,260
-75.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KKWD 6,874
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-19.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KKWD 6,241
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-43.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.4KWD 18.22
$177COP 553.2K
-66.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.98KWD 6.44
$13.88COP 43.3K
51.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.86KWD 8.55
$29.72COP 92.8K
-6.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.3KWD 26.18
$44.88COP 140.1K
90.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.95KWD 3.05
$6.65COP 20.7K
49.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$295KWD 90.4
$813COP 2.5M
-63.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,583KWD 2,635
$9,187COP 28.7M
-6.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.17KWD 10.80
$89.5COP 279.3K
-60.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85KWD 10.70
$59.0COP 184.0K
-40.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4KWD 26.82
$138COP 431.2K
-36.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9KWD 26.37
$102COP 318.7K
-15.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709KWD 218
$1,062COP 3.3M
-33.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$525KWD 161
$663COP 2.1M
-20.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579KWD 485
$1,888COP 5.9M
-16.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,403KWD 431
$1,027COP 3.2M
36.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
10.94
-40.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Janub-as-surrah: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Janub-as-surrah and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Janub-as-surrah vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $165 vs $305, with Janub-as-surrah cheaper for home cooking.
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
Janub-as-surrah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Janub-as-surrah or Medellin?
Janub-as-surrah wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Janub-as-surrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Janub-as-surrah and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,894 in Janub-as-surrah and $2,521 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Janub-as-surrah compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Janub-as-surrah or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 85% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Janub-as-surrah compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,263 per month in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Janub-as-surrah or in Medellin?
At $1,263 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Janub-as-surrah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Janub-as-surrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Janub-as-surrah or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Janub-as-surrah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,263 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Janub-as-surrah hard to pass up.
How safe is Janub-as-surrah compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Janub-as-surrah vs other spots: cost of living compared