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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $680 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $999 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,319 in An Najaf, rent included.

Medellin costs about 48% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, An Najaf 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.00 IQD 5,232

47.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$22.74 IQD 29.8K

44.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.71 IQD 6,173

57.75%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.76 IQD 3,617

-40.22%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.36 IQD 478

205.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.20 IQD 268

290.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.45 IQD 4,521

-50.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.92 IQD 3,828

8.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.32 IQD 1,732

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.82 IQD 1,077

53.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.64 IQD 2,153

-15.85%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.74 IQD 2,276

25.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$2.37 IQD 3,110

89.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.99 IQD 6,536

16.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$10.52 IQD 13.8K

-14.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.23 IQD 1,605

88.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.20 IQD 1,573

-11.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.06 IQD 1,388

43.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.73 IQD 962

86.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.65 IQD 855

73.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.67 IQD 883

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.65 IQD 846

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.39 IQD 514

130.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.51 IQD 1,983

47.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$13.38 IQD 17.5K

-9.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.79 IQD 2,338

-33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.09 IQD 2,733

18.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.36 IQD 475

136.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$33.79 IQD 44.3K

23.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.96 IQD 2,561

-27.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.53 IQD 1,999

27.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$5.12 IQD 6,706

54.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.47 IQD 619

110.64%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$11.3K IQD 14.8M

55.84%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

32.65%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$60.1 IQD 78.7K

38.07%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$23.36 IQD 30.6K

-58.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$34.30 IQD 44.9K

-31.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$29.48 IQD 38.6K

-14.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

28.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$7.43 IQD 9,726

-46.84%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$169 IQD 221.0K

87.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$929 IQD 1.2M

543.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$16.63 IQD 21.8K

260.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$25.08 IQD 32.8K

26.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$64.7 IQD 84.7K

57.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$43.02 IQD 56.3K

149.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$238 IQD 311.3K

99.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$135 IQD 176.3K

177.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$378 IQD 495.3K

124.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$156 IQD 204.3K

361.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,242 IQD 1.6M

162.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$495 IQD 648.3K

190.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$734 IQD 961.5K

-14.95%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 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 18% 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: $193 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 48% 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,019 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $680 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 23% 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 $680, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $680 versus $1,003 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.