Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ibra Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ibra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $847 in Ibra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,270 in Ibra, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,693 in Ibra, rent included.

Medellin costs about 22% more than Ibra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Ibra are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ibra 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 19.8K

$5.16 OMR 1.99

19.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 104.8K

$26.23 OMR 10.09

24.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.6K

$7.73 OMR 2.98

-5.05%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,527

$4.93 OMR 1.90

-65.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,376

$1.01 OMR 0.39

3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,482

$0.32 OMR 0.12

140.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,417

$12.37 OMR 4.76

-86.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$11.64 OMR 4.48

-72.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,379

$2.01 OMR 0.77

-47.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,181

$1.24 OMR 0.48

4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,485

$1.66 OMR 0.64

-15.66%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 6,956

$2.37 OMR 0.91

-8.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.1K

$3.80 OMR 1.46

15.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 18.9K

$4.98 OMR 1.92

18.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.8K

$8.35 OMR 3.22

3.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,330

$2.61 OMR 1.00

-12.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,557

$1.73 OMR 0.66

-35.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,918

$1.85 OMR 0.71

-17.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,353

$1.18 OMR 0.46

14.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,627

$1.01 OMR 0.39

11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,644

$1.02 OMR 0.39

10.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,717

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-21.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,937

$0.52 OMR 0.20

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,531

$6.29 OMR 2.42

-62.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 39.7K

$15.77 OMR 6.07

-21.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,859

$4.41 OMR 1.70

-72.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,000

$7.86 OMR 3.02

-68.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,692

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 130.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,563

$3.11 OMR 1.20

-54.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,155

$0.80 OMR 0.31

140.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.6K

$10.31 OMR 3.97

-25.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,181

$0.65 OMR 0.25

52.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 57.9M

$23.2K OMR 8,939

-22.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 85.6M

$21.8K OMR 8,389

22.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 259.7K

$107 OMR 41.17

-24.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.0K

$41.12 OMR 15.83

-75.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 77.7K

$69.0 OMR 26.57

-64.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 80.6K

$31.11 OMR 11.97

-19.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 61.5K

$18.34 OMR 7.06

4.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 12.8K

$7.09 OMR 2.73

-43.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 980.7K

$196 OMR 75.6

55.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.5M

$9,833 OMR 3,785

-38.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 186.8K

$51.0 OMR 19.64

13.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 103.5K

$39.28 OMR 15.12

-18.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 323.7K

$78.3 OMR 30.13

28.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 346.3K

$86.9 OMR 33.46

23.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$4,220 OMR 1,624

-85.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.15

160.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ibra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 584% higher in Ibra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Ibra. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $232 in Ibra – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ibra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 22% more than Ibra, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,270 in Ibra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $847 in Ibra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $196 in Ibra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ibra, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ibra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ibra costs $847 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ibra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.