Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abha Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,136 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,893 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,650 in Abha, rent included.

Medellin is about 11% cheaper than Abha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Abha are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Abha 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.27 SAR 19.80

13.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$52.5 SAR 197

-37.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.55 SAR 28.35

-6.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 SAR 6.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SAR 5.35

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.17 SAR 11.88

-46.06%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.63 SAR 2.38

74.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.23 SAR 0.87

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.89 SAR 7.08

-42.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.48 SAR 1.79

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.02 SAR 7.57

-31.68%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.99 SAR 11.24

-26.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$5.80 SAR 21.77

-24.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$8.91 SAR 33.43

-36.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$16.68 SAR 62.6

-46.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.82 SAR 6.83

28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.67 SAR 6.26

-36.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.47 SAR 5.50

2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-17.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.43 SAR 5.36

-19.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.26 SAR 4.72

-7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.91 SAR 3.43

-2.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.59 SAR 2.23

42.37%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.31 SAR 16.17

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$9.42 SAR 35.37

-75.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.82 SAR 3.06

4.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$39.87 SAR 150

3.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.63 SAR 9.86

-44.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$2.63 SAR 9.87

-25.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$13.17 SAR 49.42

-41.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.61 SAR 2.28

55.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$24.2K SAR 90.9K

-25.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

19.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$81.1 SAR 304

1.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$37.40 SAR 140

-74.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$55.7 SAR 209

-56.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$122 SAR 460

-78.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$27.36 SAR 103

-30.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$18.08 SAR 67.9

-78.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$235 SAR 882

31.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,411 SAR 20.3K

10.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$37.52 SAR 141

56.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$66.6 SAR 250

-51.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$181 SAR 679

-43.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$87.2 SAR 327

24.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$358 SAR 1,345

32.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$264 SAR 991

43.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$577 SAR 2,167

45.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$640 SAR 2,402

13.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,072 SAR 4,025

160.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$609 SAR 2,285

98.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$2,221 SAR 8,334

-76.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.67

136.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Abha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $358 in Abha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 334% higher in Abha, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $53.0 in Abha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $207 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Abha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abha costs about 12% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,704 in Abha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Abha, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $53.0 in Abha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Abha at $1,136. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,136 in Abha. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.