🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,706 in Dukhan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $2,397 in Dukhan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $3,089 in Dukhan.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 4% less than in Dukhan, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin19% above, Dukhan24% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$11.21QAR 40.81
-28.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$71.9QAR 262
-32.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$8.33QAR 30.31
13.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$12.44QAR 45.29
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$13.61QAR 49.55
-
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$5.92QAR 21.56
-50.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.98QAR 3.57
89.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.42QAR 1.52
247.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$2.16QAR 7.87
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.46QAR 5.31
64.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.01QAR 7.33
-15.42%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.62QAR 13.18
-20.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$11.44QAR 41.64
-12.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$8.45QAR 30.77
17.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$11.15QAR 40.58
27.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.16QAR 7.85
84.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.77QAR 6.46
-10.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.52QAR 5.52
41.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.22QAR 4.43
88.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.96QAR 3.48
108.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.97QAR 3.53
55.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.39QAR 5.06
-13.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.51QAR 1.85
150.98%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$9.54QAR 34.74
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.92QAR 6.98
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.29QAR 8.34
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$6.39QAR 23.27
-39.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.90QAR 6.93
-31.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$2.02QAR 7.36
7.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$13.66QAR 49.73
-39.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.52QAR 1.89
161.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$27.3KQAR 99.4K
0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$22.1KQAR 80.4K
65.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$88.1QAR 321
91.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$35.06QAR 128
-61.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$86.6QAR 315
-67.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$12.24QAR 44.55
-45.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$693QAR 2,523
15.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$10.1KQAR 36.9K
-9.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$60.8QAR 221
43.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$52.5QAR 191
13.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$104QAR 377
33.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$89.6QAR 326
13.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,418QAR 5,163
-24.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$934QAR 3,399
-30.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,714QAR 6,240
12.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,154QAR 4,200
-9.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dukhan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$4,058QAR 14.8K
-83.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.88
86.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Dukhan: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $1,418 in Dukhan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dukhan pays 520% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $72.0 in Dukhan. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $219, with Dukhan cheaper for home cooking.
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 Dukhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Dukhan?
Medellin and Dukhan differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,641 vs $1,706 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 520% lower in Dukhan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Dukhan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,418 in Dukhan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Dukhan pay roughly 37% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Dukhan?
All in, you'll spend $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $1,706 in Dukhan – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,706 in Dukhan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dukhan. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Dukhan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Dukhan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Dukhan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Dukhan?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Dukhan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.