😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $676 in As Salt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,084 in As Salt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,491 in As Salt.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 48% more expensive than in As Salt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, As Salt49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$4.21JOD 2.98
40.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$21.03JOD 14.89
56.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$6.93JOD 4.90
7.22%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.44JOD 1.02
14.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.36JOD 0.26
205.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.27JOD 0.19
188.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$5.53JOD 3.92
-68.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$4.27JOD 3.02
-25.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.44JOD 1.02
-23.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.34JOD 0.24
270.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.62JOD 1.15
-14.81%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.73JOD 1.23
26.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$4.14JOD 2.93
8.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$4.16JOD 2.95
39.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$11.62JOD 8.23
-22.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.44JOD 1.02
61.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.49JOD 1.06
-28.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.43JOD 1.01
6.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$0.58JOD 0.41
134.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.69JOD 0.49
63.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.73JOD 0.52
60.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.60JOD 0.42
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.62JOD 0.44
45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.63JOD 2.57
-38.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$13.93JOD 9.86
-12.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$4.63JOD 3.27
-74.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$5.27JOD 3.73
-52.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.89JOD 0.63
-4.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$28.60JOD 20.25
45.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.58JOD 0.41
144.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$1.38JOD 0.98
41.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$7.00JOD 4.96
12.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.31JOD 0.93
-24.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$21.3KJOD 15.1K
-17.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$25.6KJOD 18.1K
4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$34.96JOD 24.75
137.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$11.07JOD 7.84
-12.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$14.37JOD 10.18
63.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$33.10JOD 23.44
-23.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$35.19JOD 24.91
-45.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$9.09JOD 6.44
-56.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$143JOD 101
120.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$5,477JOD 3,878
9.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$24.44JOD 17.31
145.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$49.02JOD 34.70
-35.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$50.3JOD 35.63
102.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$27.94JOD 19.78
284.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$140JOD 99.3
238.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$154JOD 109
142.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$245JOD 173
247.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$282JOD 200
154.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$567JOD 402
10.08%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for As Salt: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $140 in As Salt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 10% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $21.00 in As Salt. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $199, 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 in As Salt?
Average pay runs 10% 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: $475 in Medellin versus $140 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 $21.00 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 $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $676 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 in As Salt?
At $676 in As Salt versus $1,003 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 $676 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.