😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,355 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,250 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,146 in Janub-as-surrah versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Janub-as-surrah is roughly 35% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Janub-as-surrah is 2% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.80KWD 2.40
$5.91COP 18.6K
31.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9KWD 18.11
$32.96COP 103.8K
78.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.39KWD 2.58
$7.43COP 23.4K
12.92%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39KWD 0.73
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51KWD 1.08
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.50KWD 1.69
$1.65COP 5,207
233.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63KWD 0.20
$1.10COP 3,468
-42.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34KWD 0.10
$0.78COP 2,458
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72COP 5,412
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18COP 10.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43KWD 0.44
$1.10COP 3,474
30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05KWD 0.32
$1.26COP 3,962
-16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71KWD 0.53
$1.38COP 4,349
23.91%
Eggs
$1.96KWD 0.60
$2.18COP 6,858
-10.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.56KWD 1.40
$4.49COP 14.1K
1.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.52KWD 2.01
$5.79COP 18.2K
12.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.95KWD 3.06
$8.97COP 28.2K
10.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31KWD 0.71
$2.32COP 7,308
-0.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68KWD 0.52
$1.06COP 3,352
58.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57KWD 0.48
$1.52COP 4,774
3.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40KWD 0.43
$1.36COP 4,270
2.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23KWD 0.38
$1.13COP 3,552
8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13KWD 0.35
$1.17COP 3,689
-3.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67KWD 0.51
$0.90COP 2,838
85.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46KWD 0.14
$0.90COP 2,823
-48.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.69KWD 1.13
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01KWD 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35KWD 0.41
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98KWD 0.92
$2.23COP 7,034
33.63%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COP 3,743
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48COP 7,815
-
🚌 Getting Around
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88KWD 0.27
$0.85COP 2,687
3.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.22KWD 13.60
$41.62COP 131.0K
6.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19KWD 0.98
$1.42COP 4,459
124.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.21KWD 0.99
$1.95COP 6,141
64.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.47KWD 5.07
$7.89COP 24.8K
108.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36KWD 0.11
$0.99COP 3,118
-63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7KKWD 6,379
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
17.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9KKWD 5,800
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-29.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.4KWD 18.88
$83.0COP 261.4K
-26.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.27KWD 5.62
$9.70COP 30.5K
88.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.12KWD 8.03
$23.52COP 74.1K
11.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.4KWD 29.04
$25.26COP 79.5K
273.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.74KWD 14.07
$19.10COP 60.1K
139.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.54KWD 3.55
$3.95COP 12.4K
192.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278KWD 85.4
$316COP 994.2K
-12.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,190KWD 1,904
$5,975COP 18.8M
3.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.97KWD 13.22
$60.0COP 188.9K
-28.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.65KWD 13.12
$31.82COP 100.2K
34.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3KWD 26.54
$102COP 320.1K
-15.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1KWD 25.56
$107COP 338.3K
-22.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$791KWD 243
$475COP 1.5M
66.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622KWD 191
$374COP 1.2M
66.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596KWD 491
$849COP 2.7M
87.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,307KWD 402
$719COP 2.3M
81.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.14
13.43
-46.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Janub-as-surrah: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $791 in Janub-as-surrah and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Janub-as-surrah vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $193, 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?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Janub-as-surrah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin 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 $2,032 in Janub-as-surrah and $1,504 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: $791 in Janub-as-surrah versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Janub-as-surrah compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,355 per month in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Janub-as-surrah compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 6% less than in Janub-as-surrah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Janub-as-surrah or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,355 in Janub-as-surrah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Janub-as-surrah. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin 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 Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Janub-as-surrah. 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