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 $1,555 per month in Medellin vs $705 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Medellin vs $1,091 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Medellin vs $1,476 in Az-zarqa', rent included.

Medellin costs about 121% more than Az-zarqa', driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 15% above the global median, while Az-zarqa' is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.59 COP 24.3K
$4.27 JOD 3.03
77.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.78 COP 143.4K
$25.19 JOD 17.83
77.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.6K
$5.58 JOD 3.95
65.59%
Cappuccino
$2.95 COP 9,441
$0.85 JOD 0.60
247.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,769
$0.43 JOD 0.31
318.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 COP 4,322
$0.33 JOD 0.23
309.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 COP 9,394
$4.26 JOD 3.01
-31.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 COP 17.5K
$10.87 JOD 7.69
-49.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 COP 4,590
$1.37 JOD 0.97
4.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,662
$0.43 JOD 0.31
455.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 COP 5,127
$1.51 JOD 1.07
5.96%
Eggs
$2.88 COP 9,217
$1.81 JOD 1.28
59.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.71 COP 31.1K
$4.93 JOD 3.49
96.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 COP 30.2K
$5.43 JOD 3.84
73.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.24 COP 42.4K
$8.24 JOD 5.83
60.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 COP 12.0K
$1.56 JOD 1.10
140.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 COP 4,629
$1.33 JOD 0.94
9.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,722
$1.21 JOD 0.86
73.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,821
$0.59 JOD 0.41
261.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 COP 6,161
$0.86 JOD 0.61
123.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,905
$0.84 JOD 0.60
82.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 COP 3,493
$0.59 JOD 0.42
84.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 3,783
$0.51 JOD 0.36
131.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 COP 12.1K
$3.78 JOD 2.67
0.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.16 COP 42.2K
$7.15 JOD 5.06
84.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 COP 5,254
$4.30 JOD 3.04
-61.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 COP 7,294
$4.35 JOD 3.08
-47.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,765
$0.66 JOD 0.46
78.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.6 COP 235.8K
$21.06 JOD 14.90
249.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,091
$0.63 JOD 0.45
103.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 COP 6,333
$1.38 JOD 0.98
43.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 25.3K
$4.88 JOD 3.45
61.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 COP 4,145
$1.39 JOD 0.98
-7.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.8M
$17.0K JOD 12.1K
57.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.1M
$22.2K JOD 15.7K
56.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 COP 505.5K
$126 JOD 88.9
25.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.39 COP 42.9K
$13.35 JOD 9.45
0.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.28 COP 87.4K
$27.71 JOD 19.61
-1.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.15 COP 141.4K
$28.32 JOD 20.04
55.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99 COP 51.2K
$14.18 JOD 10.04
12.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.39 COP 20.5K
$10.14 JOD 7.17
-36.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$777 COP 2.5M
$211 JOD 150
267.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,800 COP 28.2M
$4,263 JOD 3,017
106.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7 COP 265.0K
$20.96 JOD 14.83
294.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1 COP 179.8K
$13.94 JOD 9.87
302.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 COP 419.0K
$44.94 JOD 31.80
191.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 COP 307.2K
$39.93 JOD 28.26
140.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 COP 3.2M
$165 JOD 117
509.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 COP 2.0M
$123 JOD 87.3
408.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,826 COP 5.8M
$302 JOD 213
505.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$969 COP 3.1M
$244 JOD 173
296.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,907 COP 12.5M
$567 JOD 402
588.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,576 COP 5.0M
$349 JOD 247
351.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Az-zarqa'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$620 COP 2.0M
$498 JOD 353
24.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.81
60.65%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Last update for Az-zarqa': September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Medellin versus $165 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 24% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Az-zarqa'. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $179 – 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 in Az-zarqa' compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,555 in Medellin, $705 in Az-zarqa' – roughly 121% 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 $2,333 per month in Medellin and $1,058 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 in Az-zarqa'?
Public transport costs about 249% 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 $777 per month in Medellin and $211 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 $705, than in Medellin at $1,555. 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 $705 in Az-zarqa' to $1,555 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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