Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ahmadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ahmadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,356 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,111 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,865 in Ahmadi, rent included.

Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Ahmadi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Ahmadi is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$4.78 KWD 1.47

25.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$24.08 KWD 7.39

36.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.30 KWD 2.55

-14.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$5.58 KWD 1.71

-69.35%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.47 KWD 0.14

134.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.34 KWD 0.11

129.41%

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

$1.28 KWD 0.39

-14.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.80 KWD 0.24

57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.59 KWD 0.49

-13.21%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.35 KWD 0.41

62.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$3.18 KWD 0.98

38.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.87 KWD 1.49

15.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$10.43 KWD 3.20

-14.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.50 KWD 0.46

56.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.50 KWD 0.46

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.16 KWD 0.36

29.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.78 KWD 0.24

76.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.50 KWD 0.15

130.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.51 KWD 0.16

127.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.29 KWD 0.40

-31.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.49 KWD 0.15

71.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$2.91 KWD 0.89

-21.65%

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

$1.01 KWD 0.31

-14.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$29.92 KWD 9.18

38.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$3.17 KWD 0.97

-53.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$3.18 KWD 0.98

-38.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$16.40 KWD 5.03

-52.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.33 KWD 0.10

187.88%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$21.6K KWD 6,634

-16.17%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$18.4K KWD 5,650

43.76%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$63.5 KWD 19.47

29.59%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$16.06 KWD 4.93

-40.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$25.37 KWD 7.78

-4.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$132 KWD 40.56

-80.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$49.66 KWD 15.23

-61.74%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$11.31 KWD 3.47

-65.25%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$96.2 KWD 29.49

221.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$6,540 KWD 2,006

-8.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$42.65 KWD 13.08

37.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$41.82 KWD 12.82

-22.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$88.0 KWD 26.99

16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$82.7 KWD 25.37

31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$821 KWD 252

-42.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$622 KWD 191

-39.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,891 KWD 580

-55.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,252 KWD 384

-42.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$3,126 KWD 959

-10.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$2,483 KWD 762

-51.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$3,529 KWD 1,082

-85.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.5

198.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ahmadi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $821 in Ahmadi. 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 590% higher in Ahmadi, 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 $24.00 in Ahmadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $136 – making Ahmadi 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 Ahmadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ahmadi is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,034 in Ahmadi. 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $96.2 in Ahmadi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Ahmadi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Ahmadi at $1,356. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahmadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Ahmadi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.