Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ahvaz Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ahvaz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $564 in Ahvaz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $857 in Ahvaz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,149 in Ahvaz, rent included.

Medellin costs about 79% more than Ahvaz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ahvaz are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ahvaz 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COP 21.4K
$2.05 $2.05
192.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COP 117.4K
$17.32 $17.32
89.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COP 25.3K
$3.71 $3.71
91.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.89 $0.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.00 $1.00
-
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,115
$1.20 $1.20
42.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,924
$0.42 $0.42
161.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,781
$1.19 $1.19
-34.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COP 5,997
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 3,906
$0.88 $0.88
23.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,508
$0.59 $0.59
113.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,922
$2.76 $2.76
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,827
$1.29 $1.29
69.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COP 15.7K
$4.02 $4.02
9.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COP 20.1K
$3.65 $3.65
54.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COP 31.8K
$9.36 $9.36
-5.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,349
$0.79 $0.79
196.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,777
$1.42 $1.42
-25.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COP 5,374
$0.78 $0.78
92.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,924
$0.56 $0.56
146.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 4,111
$0.59 $0.59
94.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,155
$0.52 $0.52
123.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,182
$0.46 $0.46
93.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,997
$0.31 $0.31
170.97%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.98 $0.98
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49 $0.49
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.14 $1.14
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COP 8,145
$2.18 $2.18
4.59%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,056
$0.22 $0.22
290.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COP 147.9K
$9.90 $9.90
318.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,264
$0.52 $0.52
182.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 7,009
$0.49 $0.49
300.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COP 27.6K
$2.96 $2.96
161.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,409
$0.76 $0.76
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 64.7M
$118.7K $118.7K
-84.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 94.6M
$62.8K $62.8K
-57.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COP 293.7K
$14.09 $14.09
483.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COP 33.9K
$2.12 $2.12
348.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COP 86.5K
$7.02 $7.02
245.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COP 92.4K
$18.42 $18.42
40.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COP 67.9K
$5.94 $5.94
219.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COP 14.0K
$1.19 $1.19
230.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COP 1.1M
$108 $108
186.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COP 21.3M
$626 $626
852.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 209.5K
$20.05 $20.05
192.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COP 115.5K
$24.60 $24.60
31.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 366.4K
$98.4 $98.4
4.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 387.2K
$104 $104
4.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.7M
$318 $318
49.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.4M
$227 $227
67.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$509 $509
64.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 2.6M
$355 $355
103.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COP 10.0M
$1,256 $1,256
122.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COP 4.3M
$742 $742
63.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ahvaz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COP 1.8M
$531 $531
-3.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
23.67
-43.26%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ahvaz: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $318 in Ahvaz. 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 4% higher in Ahvaz, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $17.00 in Ahvaz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $116 – making Ahvaz 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 Ahvaz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ahvaz cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $847 in Ahvaz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ahvaz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Ahvaz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $17.00 in Ahvaz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Ahvaz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $564 in Ahvaz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Ahvaz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ahvaz, where all-in costs run around $564, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ahvaz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ahvaz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ahvaz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ahvaz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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