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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 49.1% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 65% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 48.8% cheaper than Dubai without rent, and 63.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.2K
$10.78 AED 39.55
-43.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.3K
$80.2 AED 294
-58.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$9.59 AED 35.21
-23.67%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,987
$5.45 AED 19.98
-69.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,987
$1.19 AED 4.37
-7.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,822
$0.88 AED 3.22
-11.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,188
$12.21 AED 44.80
-86.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.5K
$13.63 AED 50.0
-76.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,012
$1.94 AED 7.12
-42.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,719
$1.37 AED 5.02
-4.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,980
$2.22 AED 8.14
-37.84%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,009
$3.30 AED 12.13
-32.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$10.09 AED 37.05
-56.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$9.20 AED 33.75
-36.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.4K
$12.78 AED 46.90
-29.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,164
$2.34 AED 8.59
-3.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,023
$1.94 AED 7.11
-42.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,284
$1.91 AED 7.02
-23.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,929
$1.53 AED 5.62
-10.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,009
$1.19 AED 4.36
-6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,199
$1.27 AED 4.67
-8.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,211
$1.45 AED 5.32
-38.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,124
$0.69 AED 2.52
26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,495
$6.51 AED 23.88
-63.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.2K
$19.19 AED 70.4
-43.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,330
$2.74 AED 10.05
-56.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,946
$3.44 AED 12.64
-27.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,842
$1.62 AED 5.94
-51.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 147.2K
$80.6 AED 296
-49.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,137
$3.23 AED 11.85
-56.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,900
$0.79 AED 2.90
141.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.6K
$7.99 AED 29.31
-4.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,490
$0.79 AED 2.89
22.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.3M
$33.1K AED 121.3K
-45.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 95.0M
$22.6K AED 83.0K
16.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 293.5K
$215 AED 788
-62.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.8K
$63.5 AED 233
-84.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 88.0K
$101 AED 369
-75.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.9K
$85.9 AED 315
-69.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.3K
$45.94 AED 169
-58.82%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$15.02 AED 55.1
-74.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$827 AED 3,034
-63.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$14.2K AED 52.2K
-58.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.8K
$83.1 AED 305
-29.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.2K
$63.9 AED 235
-49.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 367.3K
$114 AED 419
-10.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 390.4K
$123 AED 453
-12.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$2,433 AED 8,928
-80.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$1,555 AED 5,708
-76.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$4,541 AED 16.7K
-81.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$3,004 AED 11.0K
-76.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.4M
$7,123 AED 26.1K
-59.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$4,087 AED 15.0K
-66.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dubai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 2.0M
$3,901 AED 14.3K
-86.12%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Dubai: April 12, 2026

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

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