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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $596 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,044 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,492 in Al Mafraq, rent included.

Medellin costs about 68% more than Al Mafraq, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Al Mafraq are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Al Mafraq 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.35 JOD 3.08

35.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$48.88 JOD 34.61

-32.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.36 JOD 3.08

70.41%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.39 JOD 0.98

18.71%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.37 JOD 0.26

197.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.34 JOD 0.24

129.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$5.67 JOD 4.01

-69.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$7.07 JOD 5.00

-55.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.04 JOD 0.74

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.29 JOD 0.21

334.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.10 JOD 0.78

25.45%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.25 JOD 0.89

74.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$5.57 JOD 3.94

-19.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.57 JOD 2.53

62.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$4.86 JOD 3.44

84.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$0.74 JOD 0.52

213.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.87 JOD 0.62

21.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.37 JOD 0.97

10.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.34 JOD 0.24

300.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.84 JOD 0.59

34.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.57 JOD 0.41

105.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.65 JOD 0.46

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.40 JOD 0.28

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.37 JOD 2.38

-33.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$21.32 JOD 15.09

-43.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$4.69 JOD 3.32

-74.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$5.26 JOD 3.72

-52.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.33 JOD 0.24

157.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.69 JOD 0.49

105.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.44 JOD 1.02

35.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$7.04 JOD 4.98

12.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.47 JOD 1.04

-32.65%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$27.4K JOD 19.4K

-35.69%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$31.8K JOD 22.5K

-15.86%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$105 JOD 74.5

-21.12%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$16.81 JOD 11.90

-42.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$28.58 JOD 20.24

-17.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$28.29 JOD 20.03

-10.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$11.45 JOD 8.11

-65.50%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$71.5 JOD 50.6

341.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$5,374 JOD 3,805

11.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$27.83 JOD 19.70

115.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$48.80 JOD 34.55

-34.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$116 JOD 82.1

-12.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$41.56 JOD 29.42

158.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$69.2 JOD 49.01

586.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$277 JOD 196

206.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$142 JOD 101

406.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,063 JOD 752

-41.24%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al Mafraq: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $69.2 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 70% 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 $49.00 in Al Mafraq. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $176 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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $894 in Al Mafraq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $49.00 in Al Mafraq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $596, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Al Mafraq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.