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 $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $966 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,499 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,033 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 23% lower, AL Kharj 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$6.83 SAR 25.61

-13.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$26.98 SAR 101

21.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.19 SAR 30.70

-12.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.38 SAR 8.92

-28.57%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.79 SAR 2.96

39.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.14 SAR 0.54

414.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-36.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.26 SAR 0.97

380.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$2.36 SAR 8.87

-41.10%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.01 SAR 7.54

12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$8.46 SAR 31.74

-48.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.91 SAR 18.43

18.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$13.42 SAR 50.3

-34.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.96 SAR 7.34

14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.23 SAR 4.61

-12.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.96 SAR 3.60

59.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.34 SAR 5.03

2.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.89 SAR 3.34

26.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.90 SAR 3.38

24.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.76 SAR 2.86

11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.51 SAR 1.93

78.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.12 SAR 7.93

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.09

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 SAR 9.02

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$6.43 SAR 24.13

-63.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$1.06 SAR 3.97

-25.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$39.24 SAR 147

4.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$2.63 SAR 9.88

-45.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.55 SAR 2.08

247.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$13.12 SAR 49.19

-38.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.63 SAR 2.36

49.21%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$35.3K SAR 132.5K

-49.26%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

15.26%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$102 SAR 384

-17.97%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$26.98 SAR 101

-64.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$49.64 SAR 186

-51.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$65.7 SAR 246

-60.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$40.61 SAR 152

-53.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$15.72 SAR 59.0

-75.06%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$176 SAR 661

73.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$3,677 SAR 13.8K

60.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$59.5 SAR 223

-2.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$52.3 SAR 196

-39.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$53.5 SAR 201

86.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$79.3 SAR 297

35.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$650 SAR 2,439

-25.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$230 SAR 864

59.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$486 SAR 1,821

70.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$496 SAR 1,861

44.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$2,774 SAR 10.4K

-80.34%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $650 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 409% 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 $27.00 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: $1,034 in Medellin, $966 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,449 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 $306 per month in Medellin and $176 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 $966, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $966 in AL Kharj to $1,034 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.