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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $898 in Aqaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,439 in Aqaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,980 in Aqaba, rent included.

Medellin costs about 15% more than Aqaba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Aqaba are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Aqaba 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$2.89 JOD 2.05

104.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$48.92 JOD 34.68

-33.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$4.25 JOD 3.01

69.41%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$4.08 JOD 2.89

-58.33%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.52 JOD 0.37

111.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.35 JOD 0.25

105.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$5.75 JOD 4.08

-70.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$6.94 JOD 4.92

-55.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.44 JOD 1.02

-26.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.47 JOD 0.33

165.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.70 JOD 1.21

-18.24%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.66 JOD 1.18

36.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$5.72 JOD 4.06

-24.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.14 JOD 2.94

41.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$9.59 JOD 6.80

-7.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.37 JOD 0.97

63.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.37 JOD 0.97

-21.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.04 JOD 0.74

47.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.74 JOD 0.52

85.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.74 JOD 0.52

52.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.70 JOD 0.50

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.61 JOD 0.43

39.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.59 JOD 0.42

54.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$3.48 JOD 2.46

-33.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$16.90 JOD 11.98

-34.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.85 JOD 2.02

-58.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.44 JOD 1.73

-2.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.48 JOD 0.34

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.38 JOD 0.98

38.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$7.12 JOD 5.05

12.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.41 JOD 1.00

-33.33%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$27.3K JOD 19.4K

-34.43%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$31.4K JOD 22.3K

-14.64%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$105 JOD 74.6

-20.21%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$16.98 JOD 12.04

-43.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$31.99 JOD 22.68

-24.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$71.5 JOD 50.7

-63.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$11.19 JOD 7.93

-64.97%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$275 JOD 195

11.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$2,840 JOD 2,013

108.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$28.70 JOD 20.35

101.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$41.49 JOD 29.42

-23.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$41.75 JOD 29.60

139.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$71.1 JOD 50.4

50.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$313 JOD 222

55.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$259 JOD 184

42.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$739 JOD 524

11.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$496 JOD 352

44.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,137 JOD 806

157.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$554 JOD 393

153.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$572 JOD 405

-4.55%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Aqaba: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $313 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 5% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $188 in Aqaba – so Aqaba 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 Aqaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,347 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $898 in Aqaba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $275 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 $898, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.