Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aqaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aqaba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $906 in Aqaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,442 in Aqaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,977 in Aqaba, rent included.

Medellin costs about 12% more than Aqaba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Aqaba are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Aqaba 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.81 JOD 1.99

111.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$48.81 JOD 34.55

-31.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.11 JOD 2.91

75.91%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$4.21 JOD 2.98

-61.28%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.49 JOD 0.35

122.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.37 JOD 0.26

97.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$5.51 JOD 3.90

-68.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$6.96 JOD 4.93

-53.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.45 JOD 1.02

-27.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.51 JOD 0.36

152.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.68 JOD 1.19

-21.43%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.74 JOD 1.23

30.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$5.50 JOD 3.89

-20.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.35 JOD 3.08

35.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.78 JOD 6.92

-11.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.39 JOD 0.99

61.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.39 JOD 0.98

-23.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.09 JOD 0.77

39.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.74 JOD 0.52

91.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.74 JOD 0.52

58.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.72 JOD 0.51

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.65 JOD 0.46

36.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.54 JOD 0.38

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.63 JOD 2.57

-38.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$17.11 JOD 12.11

-35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.87 JOD 2.03

-60.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.49 JOD 1.76

-4.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.51 JOD 0.36

176.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.42 JOD 1.01

33.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.95 JOD 4.92

11.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.44 JOD 1.02

-29.86%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$27.2K JOD 19.2K

-35.35%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$31.3K JOD 22.1K

-15.26%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$105 JOD 74.5

-20.53%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$16.83 JOD 11.91

-43.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$31.75 JOD 22.47

-24.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$70.0 JOD 49.54

-63.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$11.13 JOD 7.87

-63.16%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$271 JOD 192

15.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$2,866 JOD 2,028

109.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$27.78 JOD 19.67

108.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$41.98 JOD 29.72

-22.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$43.05 JOD 30.47

131.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$71.9 JOD 50.9

50.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$316 JOD 224

52.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$257 JOD 182

47.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$740 JOD 524

13.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$496 JOD 351

45.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,115 JOD 789

154.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$565 JOD 400

116.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$554 JOD 392

-2.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.27

84.73%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Aqaba: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $316 in Aqaba. 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 2% higher in Aqaba, 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 $49.00 in Aqaba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $191 – making Medellin 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 Aqaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,359 in Aqaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aqaba, 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 $906 in Aqaba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $271 in Aqaba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aqaba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Aqaba. 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.