Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $966 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,335 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,705 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Medellin costs about 7% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$5.13 OMR 1.97

20.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$25.59 OMR 9.85

27.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.95 OMR 3.06

-7.67%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$4.75 OMR 1.83

-63.79%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.50 OMR 0.19

110.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.27 OMR 0.10

185.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$12.36 OMR 4.76

-86.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$11.66 OMR 4.49

-72.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.93 OMR 0.74

-45.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.22 OMR 0.47

6.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.68 OMR 0.65

-16.67%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$1.91 OMR 0.73

13.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$3.67 OMR 1.41

19.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$4.26 OMR 1.64

38.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$7.72 OMR 2.97

11.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$2.28 OMR 0.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$1.75 OMR 0.67

-36.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$1.84 OMR 0.71

-16.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.12 OMR 0.43

20.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.95 OMR 0.37

18.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.99 OMR 0.38

14.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.04 OMR 0.40

-18.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.53 OMR 0.21

71.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$6.48 OMR 2.49

-63.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$15.88 OMR 6.11

-22.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$7.62 OMR 2.93

-67.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$1.26 OMR 0.49

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$1.58 OMR 0.61

-10.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.80 OMR 0.31

140.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$10.47 OMR 4.03

-26.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.64 OMR 0.25

54.69%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$22.5K OMR 8,649

-19.76%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$21.5K OMR 8,261

24.07%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$106 OMR 40.84

-23.84%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$40.86 OMR 15.73

-75.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$69.3 OMR 26.69

-65.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$2.56 OMR 0.98

648.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$10.45 OMR 4.02

-61.91%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

$129 OMR 49.74

136.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$3,739 OMR 1,439

62.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$20.56 OMR 7.92

182.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$26.17 OMR 10.07

23.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$39.16 OMR 15.07

157.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$52.4 OMR 20.17

105.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$154 OMR 59.2

209.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$208 OMR 80.1

80.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$397 OMR 153

113.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$212 OMR 81.5

245.07%

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

$4,373 OMR 1,683

-85.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.15

160.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $154 in Ar-rustaq. 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 609% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $220 in Ar-rustaq – so Medellin 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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,449 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $966 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $129 in Ar-rustaq. 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 Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.