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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 13% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 1.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 4% cheaper than Erbil without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$7.87 IQD 10.3K
-21.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$22.86 IQD 29.9K
44.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$8.58 IQD 11.2K
-14.69%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$3.26 IQD 4,266
-49.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.51 IQD 674
115.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.20 IQD 262
290.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.95 IQD 2,547
-12.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$2.16 IQD 2,824
46.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.33 IQD 1,745
-16.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$0.80 IQD 1,044
63.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$1.80 IQD 2,359
-23.33%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$1.92 IQD 2,508
15.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$7.49 IQD 9,801
-42.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$4.85 IQD 6,345
19.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$14.32 IQD 18.8K
-37.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$1.19 IQD 1,554
89.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.19 IQD 1,564
-6.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$1.19 IQD 1,563
22.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$0.81 IQD 1,059
69.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$0.67 IQD 880
65.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$0.75 IQD 982
54.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.74 IQD 968
20.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.57 IQD 742
52.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$2.71 IQD 3,545
-13.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$12.53 IQD 16.4K
-13.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.45 IQD 1,899
-17.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$2.03 IQD 2,654
22.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$0.59 IQD 778
33.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$35.17 IQD 46.0K
15.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$2.36 IQD 3,096
-39.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$2.31 IQD 3,019
-17.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$6.79 IQD 8,893
12.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$0.65 IQD 845
49.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$18.9K IQD 24.8M
-4.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$20.4K IQD 26.7M
28.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$98.8 IQD 129.4K
-17.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$17.50 IQD 22.9K
-44.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$30.35 IQD 39.7K
-19.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$73.9 IQD 96.7K
-64.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$11.75 IQD 15.4K
61.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$11.31 IQD 14.8K
-65.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$262 IQD 343.1K
16.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$3,323 IQD 4.4M
77.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$33.22 IQD 43.5K
76.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$48.02 IQD 62.9K
-32.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$81.5 IQD 106.8K
24.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$77.1 IQD 100.9K
40.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$430 IQD 562.7K
10.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$276 IQD 361.4K
34.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$724 IQD 947.4K
17.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$496 IQD 649.5K
44.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$1,111 IQD 1.5M
158.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$653 IQD 854.3K
110.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Erbil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$566 IQD 741.0K
-4.31%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Erbil: April 11, 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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