😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,340 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,242 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,144 in Janub-as-surrah versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Janub-as-surrah is roughly 32% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Janub-as-surrah is 0% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.91KWD 2.43
$5.95COP 20.8K
32.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3KWD 17.90
$33.33COP 116.3K
74.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.56KWD 2.63
$7.23COP 25.2K
18.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48KWD 0.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38KWD 1.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.42KWD 1.67
$1.63COP 5,687
232.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59KWD 0.18
$1.09COP 3,821
-45.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34KWD 0.10
$0.73COP 2,548
-53.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74COP 6,065
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44KWD 0.44
$1.05COP 3,662
37.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05KWD 0.32
$1.29COP 4,515
-18.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73KWD 0.53
$1.32COP 4,617
31.06%
Eggs
$2.04KWD 0.63
$2.27COP 7,927
-10.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.58KWD 1.41
$4.35COP 15.2K
5.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.60KWD 2.03
$5.88COP 20.5K
12.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.83KWD 3.02
$8.61COP 30.0K
14.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34KWD 0.72
$2.25COP 7,844
4.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60KWD 0.49
$1.07COP 3,733
49.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53KWD 0.47
$1.52COP 5,322
0.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38KWD 0.42
$1.42COP 4,964
-2.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29KWD 0.40
$1.17COP 4,084
10.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10KWD 0.34
$1.17COP 4,077
-5.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64KWD 0.50
$0.89COP 3,096
84.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46KWD 0.14
$0.90COP 3,146
-48.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40KWD 0.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98KWD 0.92
$2.25COP 7,837
32.44%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COP 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14COP 3,977
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38COP 8,301
-
🚌 Getting Around
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88KWD 0.27
$0.84COP 2,916
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.03KWD 13.53
$41.95COP 146.4K
4.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29KWD 1.01
$1.41COP 4,912
133.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.26KWD 1.00
$1.90COP 6,634
71.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.02KWD 4.92
$7.75COP 27.0K
106.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37KWD 0.11
$1.01COP 3,509
-63.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KKWD 6,253
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
15.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3KKWD 5,938
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-27.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.8KWD 18.98
$83.7COP 292.1K
-26.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.14KWD 5.57
$9.45COP 33.0K
91.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.02KWD 7.99
$24.11COP 84.1K
7.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.9KWD 29.17
$25.31COP 88.3K
275.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.92KWD 14.41
$19.14COP 66.8K
145.14%
Cinema Ticket
$11.59KWD 3.56
$4.10COP 14.3K
182.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285KWD 87.4
$312COP 1.1M
-8.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,089KWD 1,871
$5,993COP 20.9M
1.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.26KWD 12.98
$58.0COP 202.6K
-27.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.27KWD 12.98
$32.56COP 113.6K
29.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2KWD 26.79
$99.6COP 347.7K
-12.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6KWD 25.07
$109COP 378.8K
-24.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$805KWD 247
$482COP 1.7M
66.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604KWD 185
$379COP 1.3M
59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,555KWD 478
$837COP 2.9M
85.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,274KWD 391
$723COP 2.5M
76.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Janub-as-surrah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $805 in Janub-as-surrah and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Janub-as-surrah vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $190, 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 32% 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 vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $2,009 in Janub-as-surrah and $1,525 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $805 in Janub-as-surrah versus $482 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 $1,340 per month in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Janub-as-surrah vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 5% 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 Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,340 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 $1,017 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 32% 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