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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 41.4% cheaper than Abu Dhabi without rent, and 54.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 42.1% cheaper than Abu Dhabi without rent, and 55.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$10.91 AED 40.05
-42.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$67.5 AED 248
-52.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.26 AED 33.99
-20.19%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.86 AED 21.53
-70.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.27 AED 4.65
-13.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.44 AED 1.61
65.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$10.7 AED 39.28
-84.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$10.85 AED 39.84
-70.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.94 AED 7.14
-43.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.55 AED 5.71
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.46 AED 9.04
-45.93%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$3.63 AED 13.33
-38.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.86 AED 39.89
-58.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$8.52 AED 31.29
-32.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$11.11 AED 40.79
-22.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.39 AED 8.76
-5.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.74 AED 6.4
-38.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.88 AED 6.91
-19.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.51 AED 5.53
-5.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.17 AED 4.31
-5.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.37 AED 5.03
-13.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.78 AED 6.52
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.59 AED 2.15
42.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$6.22 AED 22.86
-62.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.47 AED 49.45
-30.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.29 AED 8.42
-48.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.16 AED 7.94
15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.7 AED 2.55
18.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$26 AED 95.5
61.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.31 AED 12.14
-57.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.56 AED 2.07
250.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$8.41 AED 30.9
-6.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.76 AED 2.78
34.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$45.1K AED 165.6K
-60.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$22.4K AED 82.1K
17.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$141 AED 518
-41.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$51.9 AED 191
-81.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$102 AED 374
-76.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$64.4 AED 237
-60.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$34.84 AED 128
-45.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$13.57 AED 49.84
-70.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$628 AED 2,308
-51.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$12.4K AED 45.4K
-52.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$58.4 AED 214
-0.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$56.3 AED 207
-43.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$92.4 AED 339
11.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$90.9 AED 334
16.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$1,492 AED 5,477
-67.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,079 AED 3,964
-64.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,994 AED 11K
-72.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$2,341 AED 8,597
-68.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$5,479 AED 20.1K
-60.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$12.2K AED 44.8K
-87.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abu Dhabi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$3,127 AED 11.5K
-82.41%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Abu Dhabi: October 29, 2025

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