😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $933 in Al-hamra', rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,415 in Al-hamra', rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,897 in Al-hamra', rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 76% more than Al-hamra', driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Al-hamra' is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$5.28OMR 2.03
52.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$33.40OMR 12.86
44.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$7.67OMR 2.95
22.82%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.71OMR 1.81
-37.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.90OMR 0.35
106.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.29OMR 0.11
403.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$13.22OMR 5.09
-75.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$12.78OMR 4.92
-55.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$2.27OMR 0.87
-36.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.25OMR 0.48
92.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.81OMR 0.70
-6.08%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.96OMR 1.14
-2.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$7.75OMR 2.98
29.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$6.61OMR 2.55
50.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$10.68OMR 4.11
32.96%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.49OMR 1.34
14.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.89OMR 0.73
-16.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$2.41OMR 0.93
-10.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.24OMR 0.48
85.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.20OMR 0.46
66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.28OMR 0.49
17.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.86OMR 0.71
-35.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.66OMR 0.26
93.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$6.65OMR 2.56
-42.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$15.85OMR 6.10
-11.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$5.56OMR 2.14
-69.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$8.78OMR 3.38
-68.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$3.28OMR 1.26
-60.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$2.62OMR 1.01
-17.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$7.62OMR 2.93
8.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.59OMR 0.23
130.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$25.8KOMR 9,922
6.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$22.2KOMR 8,557
64.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$174OMR 66.9
-2.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$31.32OMR 12.05
-56.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$71.3OMR 27.45
-60.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$10.21OMR 3.93
-34.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$292OMR 112
174.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$10.5KOMR 4,044
-12.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$55.5OMR 21.35
57.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$43.71OMR 16.82
35.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$89.9OMR 34.62
54.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$97.0OMR 37.33
5.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Al-hamra'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$4,225OMR 1,626
-84.50%
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: September 7, 2026
Last update for Al-hamra': September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 545% higher in Al-hamra', 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Al-hamra'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $286 – making Al-hamra' 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 Al-hamra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-hamra' cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,399 in Al-hamra'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Al-hamra'?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $933 in Al-hamra'. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $292 in Al-hamra'. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Al-hamra'?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-hamra', where all-in costs run around $933, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Al-hamra' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Al-hamra' more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al-hamra' – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Al-hamra'?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al-hamra'. 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.