Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al-Buraimi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al-Buraimi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $923 in Al-Buraimi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $1,351 in Al-Buraimi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $1,778 in Al-Buraimi.

Living in Medellin is roughly 86% more expensive than in Al-Buraimi, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Al-Buraimi is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$5.07 OMR 1.95
58.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$13.24 OMR 5.10
264.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$7.84 OMR 3.02
24.62%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$4.87 OMR 1.87
-40.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$0.84 OMR 0.32
130.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$0.27 OMR 0.10
462.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$12.84 OMR 4.94
-75.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$12.96 OMR 4.99
-55.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$2.31 OMR 0.89
-41.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$1.24 OMR 0.48
92.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$1.53 OMR 0.59
11.11%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$2.91 OMR 1.12
-1.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$6.62 OMR 2.55
50.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$5.56 OMR 2.14
93.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$8.90 OMR 3.42
65.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.12 OMR 0.82
92.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$1.81 OMR 0.70
-13.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$2.06 OMR 0.79
3.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$1.25 OMR 0.48
76.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$1.21 OMR 0.47
69.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$0.99 OMR 0.38
51.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$0.84 OMR 0.33
41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$0.66 OMR 0.25
75.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$5.06 OMR 1.95
-22.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$15.70 OMR 6.04
-8.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$5.68 OMR 2.19
-72.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$8.86 OMR 3.41
-68.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$39.22 OMR 15.10
98.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$3.28 OMR 1.26
-60.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.27 OMR 0.49
64.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$7.86 OMR 3.03
9.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$0.64 OMR 0.25
103.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$25.3K OMR 9,741
9.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$22.4K OMR 8,610
58.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$76.7 OMR 29.53
129.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$31.38 OMR 12.08
-57.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$69.1 OMR 26.59
-56.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$64.0 OMR 24.63
-30.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$7.86 OMR 3.03
-21.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$264 OMR 102
200.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$10.7K OMR 4,121
-15.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$56.0 OMR 21.56
52.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$42.79 OMR 16.47
36.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$92.5 OMR 35.63
47.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$97.3 OMR 37.47
5.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Al-Buraimi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$3,575 OMR 1,376
-81.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.25
108.38%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Al-Buraimi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al-Buraimi pays 437% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $13.00 in Al-Buraimi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $258 per month, with Al-Buraimi cheaper across the board.

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 Al-Buraimi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Buraimi cheaper than Medellin?
Al-Buraimi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Al-Buraimi?
On paper, salaries run 437% lower in Al-Buraimi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Al-Buraimi runs roughly 98% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $793 in Medellin versus $264 in Al-Buraimi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Al-Buraimi?
At $923 in Al-Buraimi versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Buraimi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Buraimi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Al-Buraimi more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Buraimi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Al-Buraimi?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Al-Buraimi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Buraimi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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