😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $815 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,378 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,941 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 106% more than Al Mafraq, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Al Mafraq is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$7.07JOD 5.00
13.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$66.8JOD 47.30
-28.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$6.89JOD 4.88
43.54%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$4.39JOD 3.11
-28.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$0.65JOD 0.46
193.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.60JOD 0.42
151.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$8.50JOD 6.02
-63.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$11.14JOD 7.89
-48.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.43JOD 1.01
0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$0.66JOD 0.46
277.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$1.53JOD 1.08
15.69%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$2.38JOD 1.68
24.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$9.55JOD 6.76
5.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$6.60JOD 4.67
53.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$12.78JOD 9.05
11.89%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$2.46JOD 1.74
68.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.03JOD 1.44
-20.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$1.83JOD 1.29
22.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$0.85JOD 0.60
164.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$0.93JOD 0.66
119.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$0.91JOD 0.64
69.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$0.65JOD 0.46
80.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.66JOD 0.46
98.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$3.92JOD 2.77
-0.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$21.25JOD 15.04
-34.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$5.01JOD 3.54
-65.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$5.22JOD 3.70
-45.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$0.61JOD 0.43
114.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$1.44JOD 1.02
52.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$7.06JOD 5.00
23.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.65JOD 1.17
-16.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$34.7KJOD 24.6K
-19.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$34.4KJOD 24.3K
4.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$127JOD 89.9
39.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$15.95JOD 11.29
-12.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$32.31JOD 22.86
-8.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$11.23JOD 7.95
-40.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$489JOD 346
66.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$9,400JOD 6,652
-2.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$63.8JOD 45.16
40.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$81.7JOD 57.8
-27.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$124JOD 87.9
11.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$86.9JOD 61.5
17.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Al Mafraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,053JOD 745
-35.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.81
60.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Al Mafraq: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 55% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $67.0 in Al Mafraq. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $266 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 106%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,223 in Al Mafraq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Al Mafraq?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $67.0 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 in Al Mafraq?
Groceries cost about 15% 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 living in Medellin or in Al Mafraq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.