Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al Ghubra Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al Ghubra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $89.5 in Al Ghubra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $159 in Al Ghubra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $229 in Al Ghubra.

Living in Medellin is roughly 1777% more expensive than in Al Ghubra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Al Ghubra is 93% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

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

$1.91 COP 6,058

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$0.25 OMR 0.10

504.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

$2.68 OMR 1.03

-46.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

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

$177 COP 562.9K

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

$13.88 COP 44.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

$44.21 OMR 17.02

1.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

$36.32 OMR 13.98

-52.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

$8.88 OMR 3.42

-25.11%

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

$813 COP 2.6M

$179 OMR 68.8

354.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

$3,168 OMR 1,220

-78.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Al Ghubra: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Al Ghubra pays 367% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ghubra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Al Ghubra differ by about 1777% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $89.5 including rent). Al Ghubra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 367% lower in Al Ghubra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $179 in Al Ghubra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $89.5 in Al Ghubra – a 1777% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $89.5 in Al Ghubra versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Ghubra but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al Ghubra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Al Ghubra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Ghubra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1777% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.