Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abu Dhabi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Abu Dhabi

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 40.3% cheaper than Abu Dhabi without rent, and 53.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 39.4% cheaper than Abu Dhabi without rent, and 54.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$10.84 AED 39.77
-44.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.7K
$67.7 AED 249
-51.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$9.31 AED 34.15
-21.70%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,128
$5.85 AED 21.49
-72.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,944
$1.27 AED 4.66
-17.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,896
$0.40 AED 1.48
92.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,505
$10.78 AED 39.57
-83.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$10.83 AED 39.75
-70.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,013
$2.02 AED 7.40
-47.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,931
$1.53 AED 5.60
-14.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,191
$2.41 AED 8.86
-42.74%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,451
$3.68 AED 13.49
-38.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$10.64 AED 39.05
-57.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$8.49 AED 31.16
-32.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$11.15 AED 40.92
-20.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,432
$2.40 AED 8.81
-6.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,985
$1.75 AED 6.42
-39.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,693
$1.89 AED 6.94
-20.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,116
$1.50 AED 5.52
-9.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,215
$1.14 AED 4.18
-1.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,397
$1.40 AED 5.12
-16.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,393
$1.78 AED 6.52
-49.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,148
$0.63 AED 2.32
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,495
$6.36 AED 23.34
-64.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$13.60 AED 49.90
-26.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,448
$2.36 AED 8.66
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,987
$2.18 AED 7.99
9.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,231
$0.71 AED 2.59
21.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 155.9K
$26.02 AED 95.5
59.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,517
$3.30 AED 12.11
-55.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,317
$0.55 AED 2.03
254.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$7.93 AED 29.12
-2.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,638
$0.76 AED 2.78
27.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$45.1K AED 165.5K
-60.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.5M
$22.6K AED 83.0K
18.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.0K
$144 AED 530
-43.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$51.4 AED 189
-81.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$102 AED 376
-76.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$66.5 AED 244
-61.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.5K
$34.45 AED 126
-44.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$13.77 AED 50.5
-70.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$631 AED 2,315
-51.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$12.1K AED 44.6K
-51.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 224.9K
$56.8 AED 208
5.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.2K
$57.1 AED 209
-43.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.2K
$93.5 AED 343
9.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.6K
$89.8 AED 330
20.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$1,466 AED 5,381
-67.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$1,064 AED 3,903
-64.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$3,018 AED 11.1K
-72.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$2,262 AED 8,303
-68.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$4,766 AED 17.5K
-41.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$3,024 AED 11.1K
-56.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$2,603 AED 9,552
-79.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.19
158.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Abu Dhabi: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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