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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $601 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,047 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,492 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

Medellin costs about 72% more than Al Mafraq, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Al Mafraq are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Al Mafraq 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$4.12 JOD 2.92
43.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$49.56 JOD 35.14
-33.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$4.26 JOD 3.02
69.01%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.39 JOD 0.98
22.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.37 JOD 0.26
197.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.34 JOD 0.24
111.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$5.58 JOD 3.95
-70.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$7.04 JOD 4.99
-55.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.09 JOD 0.77
-2.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.27 JOD 0.19
362.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.11 JOD 0.78
25.23%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.21 JOD 0.86
86.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$5.75 JOD 4.07
-24.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$3.55 JOD 2.52
64.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$5.05 JOD 3.58
74.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$0.68 JOD 0.48
229.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$0.87 JOD 0.62
24.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.40 JOD 0.99
9.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.36 JOD 0.26
280.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.83 JOD 0.59
36.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.53 JOD 0.38
111.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.60 JOD 0.43
41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.44 JOD 0.31
106.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$3.46 JOD 2.46
-32.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$20.87 JOD 14.80
-46.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$4.78 JOD 3.39
-75.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$5.29 JOD 3.75
-55.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.36 JOD 0.26
119.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.72 JOD 0.51
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.37 JOD 0.97
39.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$6.86 JOD 4.87
16.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.42 JOD 1.01
-33.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$26.7K JOD 19.0K
-32.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$31.9K JOD 22.6K
-15.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$106 JOD 75.4
-21.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$17.08 JOD 12.11
-43.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$27.68 JOD 19.63
-12.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$28.77 JOD 20.40
-10.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$11.18 JOD 7.93
-64.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$69.6 JOD 49.34
340.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$5,324 JOD 3,775
11.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$28.45 JOD 20.17
103.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$49.22 JOD 34.90
-35.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$116 JOD 82.4
-14.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$42.85 JOD 30.38
150.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$70.2 JOD 49.75
593.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$283 JOD 201
191.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$139 JOD 98.3
416.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$1,056 JOD 749
-48.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7.27
84.73%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al Mafraq: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $70.2 in Al Mafraq. 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 94% higher in Al Mafraq, 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 $50.0 in Al Mafraq. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $177 in Al Mafraq – so Al Mafraq wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mafraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Mafraq cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 72%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $902 in Al Mafraq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Mafraq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Al Mafraq?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Al Mafraq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Al Mafraq?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Al Mafraq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $601, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Al Mafraq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Al Mafraq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Mafraq – 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 Mafraq?
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 Mafraq. 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.

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