πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $221 in Matrah versus $1,034 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $363 in Matrah versus $1,577 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $505 in Matrah versus $2,120 in Medellin.
πLiving in Matrah costs roughly 79% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Matrah84% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
-
π Groceries & Markets
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.54OMRΒ 0.98
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
139.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01OMRΒ 0.39
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
-19.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.67OMRΒ 1.02
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
92.09%
Eggs
$4.56OMRΒ 1.75
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
101.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.02OMRΒ 1.93
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
15.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.09OMRΒ 1.95
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
-12.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.73OMRΒ 2.97
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
-12.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33OMRΒ 0.51
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
-40.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79OMRΒ 0.69
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
65.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32OMRΒ 0.89
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
51.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25OMRΒ 0.48
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
-8.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07OMRΒ 0.41
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
-5.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08OMRΒ 0.42
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
-3.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50OMRΒ 0.19
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
-41.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.26OMRΒ 1.64
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
257.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$15.80OMRΒ 6.07
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
566.67%
π Getting Around
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306COPΒ 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107COPΒ 386.8K
-
π Accommodation & Living
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$487COPΒ 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$368COPΒ 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$826COPΒ 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$716COPΒ 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Matrah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COPΒ 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Matrah: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
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
Matrah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Matrah or Medellin?
Matrah wins on cost β living expenses run 368% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Matrah vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $331 in Matrah and $1,550 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Matrah or Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Matrah compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $221 per month in Matrah versus $1,034 in Medellin β a 368% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Matrah or Medellin?
At $221 in Matrah versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matrah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Matrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Matrah or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Matrah delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $221 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Matrah hard to pass up.
How safe is Matrah compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Matrah 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 Matrah gentler on the wallet β expenses run 368% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.