Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dubai Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dubai

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 49.7% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 65.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 50.2% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 63.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$11.02 AED 40.48
-43.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$80.4 AED 295
-59.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.33 AED 34.28
-20.79%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.49 AED 20.15
-68.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.24 AED 4.57
-11.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.88 AED 3.22
-17.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$12.4 AED 45.55
-86.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$13.52 AED 49.66
-76.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.01 AED 7.36
-45.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.42 AED 5.22
-12.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.27 AED 8.32
-41.41%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$3.31 AED 12.15
-32.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.19 AED 37.4
-55.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$9.18 AED 33.71
-37.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$12.76 AED 46.85
-32.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.3 AED 8.44
-1.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.87 AED 6.85
-42.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.86 AED 6.82
-18.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.49 AED 5.48
-4.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.19 AED 4.39
-6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.26 AED 4.64
-6.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.4 AED 5.13
-36.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.65 AED 2.38
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$6.7 AED 24.61
-64.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$16.32 AED 59.9
-42.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.64 AED 9.68
-55.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.52 AED 12.92
-29.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.59 AED 5.84
-47.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$80.7 AED 296
-48.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.22 AED 11.83
-56.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.85 AED 3.14
130.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$8.37 AED 30.73
-6.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.72 AED 2.65
41.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$33K AED 121K
-46.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$22.7K AED 83.3K
15.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$217 AED 796
-61.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$63.4 AED 233
-85.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$101 AED 371
-76.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$89.1 AED 327
-71.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$46.03 AED 169
-58.42%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$14.96 AED 54.9
-73.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$833 AED 3,060
-63.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$14.3K AED 52.4K
-58.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$83.3 AED 306
-30.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$63.7 AED 234
-50.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$113 AED 413
-8.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$122 AED 447
-13.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,421 AED 8,892
-79.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,560 AED 5,729
-75.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$4,608 AED 16.9K
-82.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$2,940 AED 10.8K
-75.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$7,378 AED 27.1K
-70.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$3,803 AED 14K
-59.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$4,063 AED 14.9K
-86.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.49
199.11%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Dubai: October 27, 2025

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