Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and As Salt

For one person, living is cheaper in As Salt: $687 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
As Salt, Jordan
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
As Salt
🇯🇴 Jordan
$687
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in As Salt

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in As Salt actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $687 in As Salt.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • As Salt $687

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $1,084 in As Salt.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • As Salt $1,084

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $1,482 in As Salt.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • As Salt $1,482

Living in Medellin is roughly 139% more expensive than in As Salt, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, As Salt is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$4.86 JOD 3.44
66.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$21.46 JOD 15.20
119.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$7.01 JOD 4.96
35.52%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,734
$2.15 JOD 1.52
40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$0.38 JOD 0.27
373.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,560
$0.29 JOD 0.21
386.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$5.66 JOD 4.01
-43.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$4.29 JOD 3.04
34.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,875
$1.24 JOD 0.88
21.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,677
$0.29 JOD 0.20
720.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,719
$1.54 JOD 1.09
14.94%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,332
$1.70 JOD 1.20
70.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$4.63 JOD 3.28
120.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$3.39 JOD 2.40
191.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$12.45 JOD 8.82
12.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$1.56 JOD 1.10
154.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,011
$1.47 JOD 1.04
5.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$1.43 JOD 1.01
52.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,050
$0.77 JOD 0.55
183.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,336
$0.79 JOD 0.56
148.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,131
$0.56 JOD 0.39
183.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,698
$0.48 JOD 0.34
139.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$0.58 JOD 0.41
113.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$3.60 JOD 2.55
10.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$14.07 JOD 9.96
-2.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$4.33 JOD 3.07
-61.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,290
$5.14 JOD 3.64
-56.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
$0.86 JOD 0.61
36.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$28.50 JOD 20.18
171.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$0.59 JOD 0.42
115.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,611
$1.44 JOD 1.02
42.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$6.95 JOD 4.92
23.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,348
$1.36 JOD 0.96
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$21.2K JOD 15.0K
60.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$24.9K JOD 17.6K
39.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.7K
$35.00 JOD 24.78
384.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$11.18 JOD 7.92
21.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$14.31 JOD 10.13
96.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$28.58 JOD 20.24
52.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$35.32 JOD 25.01
-51.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$7.07 JOD 5.00
-2.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$143 JOD 101
458.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$8,419 JOD 5,960
8.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$25.15 JOD 17.81
236.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.1K
$49.81 JOD 35.27
16.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.7K
$48.64 JOD 34.44
177.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$28.38 JOD 20.10
244.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$142 JOD 101
748.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$155 JOD 110
313.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$244 JOD 173
730.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$286 JOD 202
254.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$561 JOD 397
17.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.94
57.64%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for As Salt: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
As Salt
$155 75.8% $487
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
As Salt
$195 34.3% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
As Salt
$60 71.4% $151
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
As Salt
$125 26.2% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
As Salt
$68 59.5% $101
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
As Salt
$40 57.6% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
As Salt
$43 25.8% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $142 in As Salt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $21 in As Salt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $195 per month, with As Salt cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇯🇴 As Salt
🕒 Local time
13:22 1:22 PM
21:22 9:22 PM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
107,874
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JOD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Jordanian Dinar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.708 JOD (1 JOD = 1.41 USD). 1 EUR = 0.79 JOD (1 JOD = 1.27 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin As Salt 11,610 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • As Salt

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 As Salt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or As Salt?
As Salt wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making As Salt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in As Salt?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to As Salt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $142 in As Salt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in As Salt?
Dining out is cheaper in As Salt – a meal for two runs $21 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to As Salt?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $687 in As Salt – As Salt is about 58% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $800/month in Medellin or in As Salt?
At $687 in As Salt versus $1,639 in Medellin, a $800 budget is realistic in As Salt but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes As Salt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Medellin or As Salt?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find As Salt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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