Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $677 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $997 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,317 in An Najaf, rent included.

Medellin costs about 50% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, An Najaf 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.01 IQD 5,251

48.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$23.23 IQD 30.4K

43.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.82 IQD 6,311

50.00%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.67 IQD 3,500

-38.95%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.36 IQD 476

202.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.18 IQD 233

305.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.41 IQD 4,462

-48.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.93 IQD 3,840

10.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.38 IQD 1,804

-23.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.78 IQD 1,021

65.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.57 IQD 2,058

-15.92%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.72 IQD 2,258

31.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$2.38 IQD 3,121

82.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.80 IQD 6,281

22.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$10.53 IQD 13.8K

-18.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.27 IQD 1,658

77.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.16 IQD 1,513

-7.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.06 IQD 1,387

43.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.74 IQD 963

91.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.69 IQD 905

69.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.68 IQD 889

72.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.62 IQD 806

43.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.37 IQD 479

143.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.49 IQD 1,951

51.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$13.65 IQD 17.9K

-19.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.84 IQD 2,404

-38.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.08 IQD 2,719

14.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.40 IQD 522

110.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$34.74 IQD 45.5K

20.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.92 IQD 2,515

-26.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.48 IQD 1,939

28.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.89 IQD 6,398

58.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.48 IQD 632

110.42%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

51.58%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

34.88%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$59.8 IQD 78.3K

40.03%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$22.94 IQD 30.0K

-58.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$34.50 IQD 45.2K

-30.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$29.33 IQD 38.4K

-13.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$15.05 IQD 19.7K

27.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$7.67 IQD 10.0K

-46.54%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$165 IQD 216.6K

88.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$917 IQD 1.2M

553.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$16.27 IQD 21.3K

256.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$25.45 IQD 33.3K

27.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$64.7 IQD 84.8K

53.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$42.71 IQD 55.9K

154.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$238 IQD 311.7K

102.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$132 IQD 173.4K

186.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$383 IQD 501.1K

118.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$151 IQD 198.2K

377.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,276 IQD 1.7M

122.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$480 IQD 628.7K

154.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$752 IQD 984.2K

-28.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.67

136.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $238 in An Najaf. 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 39% higher in An Najaf, 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 $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $170 – making An Najaf 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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 50% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,016 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $677 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Medellin at $1,017. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $677 versus $1,017 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 An Najaf. 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.