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 $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $970 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,309 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,647 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Medellin costs about 4% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Ar-rustaq are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ar-rustaq 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.28 OMR 2.03

13.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$26.10 OMR 10.05

25.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.00 OMR 3.08

-11.38%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$5.01 OMR 1.93

-65.87%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.50 OMR 0.19

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.27 OMR 0.10

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$12.54 OMR 4.83

-86.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$11.82 OMR 4.55

-74.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.97 OMR 0.76

-44.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.24 OMR 0.48

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-17.37%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.88 OMR 0.72

16.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$3.86 OMR 1.48

13.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.20 OMR 1.62

34.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$7.87 OMR 3.03

12.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.30 OMR 0.89

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-36.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.83 OMR 0.71

-18.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.12 OMR 0.43

23.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.03 OMR 0.40

11.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.03 OMR 0.40

12.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.09 OMR 0.42

-18.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.51 OMR 0.20

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$6.47 OMR 2.49

-64.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$15.89 OMR 6.12

-33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$4.20 OMR 1.62

-71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$7.71 OMR 2.97

-67.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.32 OMR 0.51

-34.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.58 OMR 0.61

-6.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.75 OMR 0.29

161.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$10.25 OMR 3.94

-24.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.61 OMR 0.23

55.74%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$22.5K OMR 8,645

-19.26%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$21.9K OMR 8,417

21.15%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$106 OMR 40.86

-22.50%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$40.96 OMR 15.77

-76.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$70.0 OMR 26.96

-65.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$2.58 OMR 0.99

636.43%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$10.32 OMR 3.97

-61.92%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$132 OMR 51.0

133.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,748 OMR 1,443

59.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$20.63 OMR 7.94

184.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$25.54 OMR 9.83

26.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$39.59 OMR 15.24

159.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$51.5 OMR 19.82

110.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$159 OMR 61.2

199.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$211 OMR 81.1

79.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$385 OMR 148

117.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$211 OMR 81.1

243.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$4,394 OMR 1,692

-88.35%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $159 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 759% 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 – $188 in Medellin vs $221 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 4%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,455 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $970 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $132 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 $970, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.