Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Erbil

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 11.3% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 5.2% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 5.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
-21.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
43.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
-17.06%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$3.13 IQD 4,091
-47.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$0.52 IQD 675
101.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.22 IQD 288
250.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$1.95 IQD 2,547
-11.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$2.06 IQD 2,695
54.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$1.33 IQD 1,745
-19.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$0.84 IQD 1,100
55.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$1.80 IQD 2,348
-23.33%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$1.97 IQD 2,580
14.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$7.54 IQD 9,856
-40.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$4.75 IQD 6,212
20.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
-36.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$1.14 IQD 1,488
96.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$1.16 IQD 1,517
-8.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$1.13 IQD 1,477
33.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$0.74 IQD 972
83.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$0.72 IQD 946
55.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$0.70 IQD 921
67.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$0.74 IQD 963
21.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.56 IQD 730
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$2.64 IQD 3,455
-14.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
-19.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.38 IQD 1,802
-14.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$2.00 IQD 2,615
19.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$0.59 IQD 777
45.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
19.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$2.28 IQD 2,981
-35.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$2.29 IQD 3,000
-14.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$7.08 IQD 9,255
9.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$0.70 IQD 912
38.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
-7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
29.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$101 IQD 132.1K
-19.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
-46.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
-19.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
-65.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
64.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
-64.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$266 IQD 347.3K
15.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
78.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
80.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
-35.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
23.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
40.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$439 IQD 574.4K
10.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$276 IQD 360.6K
36.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$738 IQD 965.7K
11.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$483 IQD 631.7K
49.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
150.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$664 IQD 867.9K
98.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$555 IQD 725.3K
-3.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
14.33
-6.28%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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