Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jizan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jizan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,005 in Jizan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,595 in Jizan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,185 in Jizan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 3% more than Jizan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Jizan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Jizan 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$6.59 SAR 24.71
-10.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$26.92 SAR 101
21.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$6.48 SAR 24.31
11.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.77 SAR 6.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.84 SAR 6.90
-
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$3.30 SAR 12.39
-48.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.69 SAR 2.60
59.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.19 SAR 0.73
278.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.65 SAR 6.19
-35.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.93 SAR 3.50
34.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$2.00 SAR 7.49
-30.50%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$2.61 SAR 9.77
-13.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$7.20 SAR 27.02
-39.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$5.57 SAR 20.88
4.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$15.96 SAR 59.9
-44.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.85 SAR 6.94
21.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.39 SAR 5.20
-22.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.63 SAR 6.12
-6.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.23 SAR 4.61
11.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$1.09 SAR 4.07
3.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.10 SAR 4.11
1.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.12 SAR 4.20
-24.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.52 SAR 1.94
75.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.57 SAR 5.88
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70 SAR 6.36
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.10 SAR 7.87
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$7.16 SAR 26.85
-67.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$1.10 SAR 4.12
-28.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$40.29 SAR 151
2.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$2.64 SAR 9.90
-45.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.85 SAR 6.94
3.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$13.36 SAR 50.1
-39.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.64 SAR 2.38
46.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$26.9K SAR 100.7K
-33.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$22.6K SAR 84.9K
18.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$88.9 SAR 333
-5.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$36.57 SAR 137
-73.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$73.3 SAR 275
-67.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$87.9 SAR 330
-70.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$35.79 SAR 134
-46.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$15.51 SAR 58.2
-74.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$131 SAR 490
134.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$3,346 SAR 12.5K
76.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$28.84 SAR 108
100.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$46.50 SAR 174
-31.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$78.6 SAR 295
27.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$83.5 SAR 313
28.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$319 SAR 1,196
52.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$228 SAR 855
61.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$504 SAR 1,888
63.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$473 SAR 1,775
51.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$804 SAR 3,017
263.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$1,625 SAR 6,093
-66.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.42
203.85%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jizan: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $319 in Jizan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 198% higher in Jizan, 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 $27.00 in Jizan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $188 – making Jizan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jizan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Jizan?
Medellin costs about 3% more than Jizan, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Jizan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,508 in Jizan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Jizan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jizan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Jizan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,005 in Jizan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Jizan?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Jizan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jizan, where all-in costs run around $1,005, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Jizan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Jizan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jizan costs $1,005 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Jizan?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or Jizan?
If budget matters most, go with Jizan. 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.

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