Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $951 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,519 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,087 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Medellin costs about 7% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and AL Kharj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, AL Kharj 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$6.82 SAR 25.58

-12.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$26.20 SAR 98.3

27.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.77 SAR 29.16

-6.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 SAR 6.41

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.46 SAR 9.22

-33.74%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.76 SAR 2.84

43.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.14 SAR 0.51

421.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.68 SAR 6.29

-37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.28 SAR 1.05

360.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.44 SAR 9.15

-45.90%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.03 SAR 7.63

11.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$8.41 SAR 31.56

-48.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.14 SAR 19.29

14.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$13.09 SAR 49.12

-34.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.96 SAR 7.36

14.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.22 SAR 4.57

-12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.91 SAR 3.42

67.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.31 SAR 4.92

8.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.96 SAR 3.60

21.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.96 SAR 3.60

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.82 SAR 3.06

8.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.53 SAR 1.98

69.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.17 SAR 8.15

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.85

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 SAR 8.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$6.35 SAR 23.82

-64.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.09 SAR 4.10

-22.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$40.55 SAR 152

3.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$2.64 SAR 9.91

-46.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.51 SAR 1.91

272.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$13.08 SAR 49.07

-40.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.58 SAR 2.18

74.14%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$34.0K SAR 127.7K

-48.33%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$23.1K SAR 86.8K

14.53%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$103 SAR 386

-18.69%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$26.92 SAR 101

-64.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$51.5 SAR 193

-53.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$65.6 SAR 246

-61.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$39.41 SAR 148

-51.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$16.11 SAR 60.4

-74.55%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$179 SAR 670

74.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,781 SAR 14.2K

58.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$59.6 SAR 224

-2.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$53.6 SAR 201

-39.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$52.3 SAR 196

90.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$80.5 SAR 302

34.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$651 SAR 2,442

-25.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$232 SAR 872

63.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$472 SAR 1,769

77.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$490 SAR 1,840

47.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$2,816 SAR 10.6K

-80.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.31

152.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $651 in AL Kharj. 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 421% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $169 – making AL Kharj 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 Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $951 in AL Kharj – roughly 7% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,427 in AL Kharj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $179 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Medellin at $1,017. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $951 in AL Kharj to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 AL Kharj. 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.