😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $696 in As Salt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,097 in As Salt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,498 in As Salt.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 48% more expensive than As Salt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, As Salt48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$4.25JOD 3.02
39.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$21.08JOD 14.94
55.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$6.88JOD 4.88
4.65%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.44JOD 1.02
18.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.33JOD 0.24
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.27JOD 0.19
166.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$5.50JOD 3.90
-69.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$4.11JOD 2.91
-24.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.44JOD 1.02
-26.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.36JOD 0.26
247.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.68JOD 1.19
-17.26%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.72JOD 1.22
31.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$4.12JOD 2.92
5.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$4.33JOD 3.07
34.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$11.56JOD 8.19
-23.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.42JOD 1.01
57.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.48JOD 1.05
-27.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.39JOD 0.98
10.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$0.58JOD 0.41
136.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.73JOD 0.52
54.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.75JOD 0.53
49.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.66JOD 0.47
28.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.58JOD 0.41
56.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$3.63JOD 2.58
-35.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$13.87JOD 9.84
-19.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$4.82JOD 3.42
-75.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$5.39JOD 3.82
-56.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.92JOD 0.65
-14.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$28.20JOD 19.99
45.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.62JOD 0.44
132.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.40JOD 0.99
36.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$7.21JOD 5.11
11.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.32JOD 0.94
-28.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$20.8KJOD 14.8K
-13.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$25.5KJOD 18.1K
4.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$35.16JOD 24.93
138.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$11.14JOD 7.90
-13.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$14.18JOD 10.05
70.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$33.16JOD 23.51
-21.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$35.00JOD 24.81
-45.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$8.99JOD 6.37
-56.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$141JOD 99.6
118.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$5,488JOD 3,891
7.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$24.66JOD 17.48
134.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$48.85JOD 34.63
-34.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$49.07JOD 34.79
103.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$28.76JOD 20.39
272.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$144JOD 102
238.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$158JOD 112
132.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$242JOD 172
240.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$277JOD 197
158.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$560JOD 397
-2.63%
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 As Salt: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $144 in As Salt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰As Salt pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $21.00 in As Salt. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $201, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 48% 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 As Salt?
On paper, As Salt earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs As Salt?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $144 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 vs As Salt?
Dining out is cheaper in As Salt – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $33.00 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 $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $696 in As Salt – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or As Salt?
At $696 in As Salt versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 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 is better for digital nomads, Medellin or As Salt?
Both work as nomad bases, but As Salt delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes As Salt hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to As Salt?
Safety-wise, Medellin and As Salt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find As Salt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.