Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and 'ibri Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and 'ibri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $839 in 'ibri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,311 in 'ibri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,783 in 'ibri.

Living in Medellin is roughly 21% more expensive than 'ibri, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, 'ibri 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.3K
$2.66 OMRΒ 1.02
125.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 116.9K
$25.59 OMRΒ 9.85
28.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.2K
$6.63 OMRΒ 2.55
6.94%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,093
$3.11 OMRΒ 1.20
-45.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,910
$0.67 OMRΒ 0.26
64.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,771
$0.25 OMRΒ 0.10
212.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,976
$5.32 OMRΒ 2.05
-68.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
$11.50 OMRΒ 4.43
-73.30%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,892
$1.15 OMRΒ 0.44
-5.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,492
$0.80 OMRΒ 0.31
57.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,905
$1.72 OMRΒ 0.66
-19.77%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,799
$2.40 OMRΒ 0.93
-8.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$3.83 OMRΒ 1.48
14.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.0K
$3.73 OMRΒ 1.44
50.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.6K
$8.58 OMRΒ 3.30
3.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,319
$2.57 OMRΒ 0.99
-8.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,764
$1.41 OMRΒ 0.54
-24.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,355
$1.79 OMRΒ 0.69
-16.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,906
$0.90 OMRΒ 0.34
53.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,097
$1.00 OMRΒ 0.39
15.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,141
$0.57 OMRΒ 0.22
103.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,170
$0.77 OMRΒ 0.29
15.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,986
$0.50 OMRΒ 0.19
68.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,116
$5.62 OMRΒ 2.16
-59.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
$15.53 OMRΒ 5.98
-31.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,268
$4.26 OMRΒ 1.64
-71.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,793
$7.92 OMRΒ 3.05
-68.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,045
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,245
$2.55 OMRΒ 0.98
-42.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 6,984
$0.80 OMRΒ 0.31
145.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.5K
$10.30 OMRΒ 3.97
-24.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,397
$0.61 OMRΒ 0.24
55.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.5M
$23.1K OMRΒ 8,879
-21.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.2M
$21.6K OMRΒ 8,302
22.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 292.7K
$79.2 OMRΒ 30.50
3.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.8K
$38.52 OMRΒ 14.83
-75.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.2K
$69.6 OMRΒ 26.80
-65.19%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.1K
$59.4 OMRΒ 22.87
-56.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$9.01 OMRΒ 3.47
-56.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$193 OMRΒ 74.1
60.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.2M
$9,783 OMRΒ 3,766
-39.02%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 208.7K
$51.2 OMRΒ 19.71
14.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.1K
$38.98 OMRΒ 15.01
-17.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 365.1K
$77.6 OMRΒ 29.86
32.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 385.8K
$87.8 OMRΒ 33.79
23.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$207 OMRΒ 79.7
130.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$129 OMRΒ 49.52
194.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$491 OMRΒ 189
70.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$343 OMRΒ 132
111.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
'ibri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$2,981 OMRΒ 1,148
-82.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.15
160.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for 'ibri: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $207 in 'ibri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

'ibri pays 482% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $26.00 in 'ibri. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $206, with Medellin 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
Medellin vs 'ibri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and 'ibri?
Medellin and 'ibri differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $839 including rent). 'ibri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, 'ibri earns 482% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and 'ibri?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $207 in 'ibri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or 'ibri?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $839 in 'ibri – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $839 in 'ibri versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in 'ibri but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes 'ibri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and 'ibri?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or 'ibri safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and 'ibri are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or 'ibri?
Expats usually find 'ibri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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