Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Az-zarqa' Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Az-zarqa'

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $687 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,066 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,445 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

Medellin costs about 50% more than Az-zarqa', driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Az-zarqa' are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Az-zarqa' 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$4.33 JOD 3.07
36.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$25.20 JOD 17.87
29.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$5.68 JOD 4.03
26.76%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$0.78 JOD 0.56
117.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.43 JOD 0.30
155.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.33 JOD 0.24
118.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$4.30 JOD 3.05
-61.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$6.97 JOD 4.94
-55.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.37 JOD 0.97
-22.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.52 JOD 0.37
140.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.70 JOD 1.20
-18.24%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.81 JOD 1.29
24.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$6.53 JOD 4.63
-33.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$4.28 JOD 3.04
36.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$9.42 JOD 6.68
-6.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.57 JOD 1.11
42.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.39 JOD 0.99
-22.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.04 JOD 0.73
47.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.73 JOD 0.52
87.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.74 JOD 0.53
52.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.68 JOD 0.48
64.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.52 JOD 0.37
63.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.50 JOD 0.36
82.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$3.43 JOD 2.43
-32.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$7.02 JOD 4.98
58.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$4.32 JOD 3.06
-72.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$4.17 JOD 2.95
-43.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.61 JOD 0.43
29.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$21.01 JOD 14.89
95.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.68 JOD 0.48
111.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.91 JOD 0.64
109.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$4.86 JOD 3.44
65.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.37 JOD 0.97
-31.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$27.1K JOD 19.2K
-33.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$27.6K JOD 19.6K
-3.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$98.5 JOD 69.9
-14.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$13.16 JOD 9.33
-27.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$23.40 JOD 16.59
3.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$29.58 JOD 20.97
-12.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$9.26 JOD 6.56
105.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$9.58 JOD 6.79
-59.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$81.9 JOD 58.1
274.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$2,834 JOD 2,010
108.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$22.03 JOD 15.62
162.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$25.96 JOD 18.41
22.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$44.14 JOD 31.30
126.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$57.1 JOD 40.49
87.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$164 JOD 116
197.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$123 JOD 87.3
198.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$273 JOD 193
202.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$234 JOD 166
206.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$563 JOD 399
420.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$357 JOD 253
293.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$509 JOD 361
7.12%
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 Az-zarqa': April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $164 in Az-zarqa'. 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 7% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Az-zarqa'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $182 – making Az-zarqa' the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Az-zarqa': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Az-zarqa' compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $687 in Az-zarqa' – roughly 50% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Az-zarqa'?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,031 in Az-zarqa'. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Az-zarqa'?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Az-zarqa', especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Az-zarqa'?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Az-zarqa'. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Az-zarqa'?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $81.9 in Az-zarqa'. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zarqa', where all-in costs run around $687, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Az-zarqa' it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Az-zarqa'?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $687 in Az-zarqa' to $1,034 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Az-zarqa'?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zarqa'. 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.

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