😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $776 in Al Mahwit, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,204 in Al Mahwit, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,631 in Al Mahwit, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 117% more than Al Mahwit, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Al Mahwit is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$6.24YER 1,478
26.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$25.11YER 5,946
77.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$9.32YER 2,207
-0.32%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.05YER 485
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.46YER 583
-
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$3.75YER 888
-22.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.16YER 274
56.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.62YER 147
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.98YER 468
-30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.62YER 383
51.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.00YER 475
-24.50%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$3.55YER 842
-21.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$17.01YER 4,028
-46.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$8.07YER 1,911
31.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$18.38YER 4,353
-20.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$3.27YER 774
21.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.03YER 245
33.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$2.22YER 525
3.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.56YER 370
29.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.53YER 361
36.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.31YER 311
24.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.27YER 300
-14.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.64YER 151
95.31%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.45YER 818
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.85YER 437
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.31YER 783
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$5.42YER 1,283
-25.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$4.17YER 987
-61.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$2.15YER 509
-0.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$7.43YER 1,759
14.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$2.04YER 484
-33.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$16.7KYER 4.0M
69.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$34.4KYER 8.1M
3.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$106YER 25.2K
42.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$23.87YER 5,654
-45.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$102YER 24.0K
-68.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$5.75YER 1,362
11.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$115YER 27.2K
625.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$2,168YER 513.5K
309.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$41.80YER 9,900
113.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$124YER 29.3K
-55.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$47.73YER 11.3K
186.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$41.00YER 9,708
166.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Al Mahwit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.25
-7.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Al Mahwit: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Al Mahwit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $264 – making Al Mahwit 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 Mahwit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Mahwit cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 117%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,165 in Al Mahwit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Al Mahwit?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $776 in Al Mahwit. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $115 in Al Mahwit. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Al Mahwit?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mahwit, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Al Mahwit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Al Mahwit more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Mahwit – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Mahwit. 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.