Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Baghdadi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Baghdadi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $753 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,140 in Baghdadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,526 in Baghdadi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 33% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Baghdadi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Baghdadi 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$5.07 IQD 6,644

16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$16.69 IQD 21.9K

97.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.03 IQD 9,209

5.69%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.71 IQD 2,235

-3.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.43 IQD 562

155.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.26 IQD 342

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.93 IQD 3,840

-41.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.91 IQD 3,808

9.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.14 IQD 1,490

-3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.67 IQD 879

88.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.24 IQD 2,929

-38.39%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.69 IQD 2,215

28.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$6.05 IQD 7,920

-25.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.43 IQD 5,798

30.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.22 IQD 12.1K

-2.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.02 IQD 1,337

127.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.97 IQD 1,275

9.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.01 IQD 1,323

50.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.53 IQD 695

156.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.57 IQD 747

98.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.64 IQD 832

82.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.65 IQD 857

38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.52 IQD 675

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.72 IQD 2,255

29.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$15.22 IQD 19.9K

-20.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.85 IQD 2,425

-35.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.07 IQD 2,708

19.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.37 IQD 480

129.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$31.42 IQD 41.1K

32.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.25 IQD 2,944

-36.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.47 IQD 1,925

32.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$6.02 IQD 7,879

31.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.57 IQD 748

73.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$19.0K IQD 24.8M

-7.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$19.6K IQD 25.7M

36.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$76.3 IQD 99.9K

8.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$17.46 IQD 22.9K

-44.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$35.09 IQD 45.9K

-32.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$36.50 IQD 47.8K

-30.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$16.50 IQD 21.6K

15.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$7.44 IQD 9,746

-46.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$153 IQD 200.0K

106.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,291 IQD 4.3M

81.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$27.23 IQD 35.7K

120.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$25.11 IQD 32.9K

26.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

68.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$40.99 IQD 53.7K

162.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$240 IQD 313.6K

98.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$176 IQD 230.6K

112.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$590 IQD 772.5K

43.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$348 IQD 455.1K

107.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,528 IQD 2.0M

113.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$492 IQD 643.7K

193.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$509 IQD 665.9K

22.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.67

136.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baghdadi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $240 in Baghdadi. 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 23% 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 $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $175 – making Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,129 in Baghdadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Baghdadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $753 in Baghdadi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. 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.