Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Amwaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Amwaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $630 in Amwaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,939 in Amwaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,248 in Amwaj, rent included.

Medellin costs about 64% more than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Amwaj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Amwaj 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$5.29 BHD 1.99

16.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.31 BHD 3.51

-21.16%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.61 BHD 0.98

-34.10%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.04 BHD 0.39

0.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.67 BHD 0.25

14.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$7.98 BHD 3.01

-78.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$10.67 BHD 4.02

-70.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$10.22 BHD 3.85

-42.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.31 BHD 2.00

-55.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

-26.91%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$161 BHD 60.6

-49.74%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$26.98 BHD 10.17

-63.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$66.2 BHD 24.93

-63.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$13.0K BHD 4,902

-53.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$65.1 BHD 24.52

-10.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$65.0 BHD 24.51

-50.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$93.9 BHD 35.38

7.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$120 BHD 45.17

-10.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$2,417 BHD 911

-65.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$2,114 BHD 797

-65.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$4,038 BHD 1,522

-84.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.75

133.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 555% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Amwaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 64% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $945 in Amwaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $630 in Amwaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 277% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Amwaj costs $630 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Amwaj. 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.