Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al-Qurain Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al-Qurain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,373 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,346 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,319 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Al-Qurain, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Al-Qurain is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$10.05 KWD 3.08
-41.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$82.3 KWD 25.27
-60.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$9.05 KWD 2.78
-20.44%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.43 KWD 0.75
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72 KWD 1.14
-
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$5.90 KWD 1.81
-71.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.64 KWD 0.20
71.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.37 KWD 0.11
94.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.55 KWD 0.48
-31.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.30 KWD 0.40
-3.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.76 KWD 0.54
-21.02%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$2.12 KWD 0.65
6.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$5.14 KWD 1.58
-15.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$6.65 KWD 2.04
-12.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$10.44 KWD 3.20
-15.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.36 KWD 0.72
-5.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.94 KWD 0.60
-44.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.81 KWD 0.56
-15.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.50 KWD 0.46
-8.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$1.23 KWD 0.38
-8.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.30 KWD 0.40
-13.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.64 KWD 0.50
-48.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.49 KWD 0.15
85.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$3.27 KWD 1.00
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.00 KWD 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40 KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$2.89 KWD 0.89
-19.38%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.89 KWD 0.27
-11.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$43.77 KWD 13.44
-6.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$3.21 KWD 0.99
-55.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$3.17 KWD 0.97
-39.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$16.31 KWD 5.01
-50.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.33 KWD 0.10
184.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$21.1K KWD 6,485
-15.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$20.1K KWD 6,169
33.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$62.1 KWD 19.05
35.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$18.33 KWD 5.63
-47.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$25.55 KWD 7.84
-5.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$95.7 KWD 29.38
-72.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$46.83 KWD 14.38
-59.34%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$11.33 KWD 3.48
-65.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$399 KWD 123
-23.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$6,611 KWD 2,030
-10.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$42.05 KWD 12.91
37.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$42.55 KWD 13.06
-25.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$86.1 KWD 26.44
16.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$80.6 KWD 24.74
32.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Al-Qurain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$795 KWD 244
-38.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$616 KWD 189
-40.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$1,601 KWD 491
-48.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,289 KWD 396
-44.44%
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-Qurain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$5,516 KWD 1,693
-90.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7.14
88.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al-Qurain: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $795 in Al-Qurain. 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 911% higher in Al-Qurain, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $82.0 in Al-Qurain. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $181 in Al-Qurain – so Al-Qurain 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-Qurain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Qurain cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Al-Qurain is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $2,059 in Al-Qurain. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $399 in Al-Qurain. 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 Medellin or Al-Qurain?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Al-Qurain at $1,373. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-Qurain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Al-Qurain more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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-Qurain?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al-Qurain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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