Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jizan

For one person, living is cheaper in Jizan: $928 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Jizan, Saudi Arabia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Jizan
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$928
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Jizan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Jizan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $928 in Jizan, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Jizan $928

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,525 in Jizan, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Jizan $1,525

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $2,122 in Jizan, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Jizan $2,122

Medellin costs about 82% more than Jizan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Jizan is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$5.34 SAR 20.04
56.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$37.65 SAR 141
23.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$7.17 SAR 26.91
32.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.70 SAR 6.39
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.90 SAR 7.15
-
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$3.13 SAR 11.75
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,705
$0.75 SAR 2.80
136.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,601
$0.28 SAR 1.05
407.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,950
$1.67 SAR 6.25
-8.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,401
$0.98 SAR 3.69
133.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,282
$2.14 SAR 8.05
-9.35%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,905
$2.96 SAR 11.11
3.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$7.79 SAR 29.22
28.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$5.21 SAR 19.54
100.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$14.50 SAR 54.4
-3.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.85 SAR 6.96
118.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,937
$1.57 SAR 5.89
-2.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,797
$2.12 SAR 7.96
-0.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,409
$1.48 SAR 5.56
54.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,813
$1.34 SAR 5.03
57.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,521
$1.47 SAR 5.52
16.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,780
$1.28 SAR 4.79
-8.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,104
$0.75 SAR 2.81
110.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.64 SAR 6.14
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 SAR 6.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 SAR 6.08
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$6.62 SAR 24.86
-40.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,690
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,760
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,811
$1.09 SAR 4.08
8.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$22.84 SAR 85.7
234.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,836
$2.69 SAR 10.10
-32.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,878
$3.41 SAR 12.78
-37.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$16.10 SAR 60.4
-49.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,119
$0.65 SAR 2.44
96.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$43.1K SAR 161.8K
-20.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.3M
$17.2K SAR 64.6K
98.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 574.1K
$105 SAR 395
68.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.9K
$36.04 SAR 135
-61.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$63.7 SAR 239
-51.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.5K
$97.1 SAR 364
-56.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
$37.39 SAR 140
-55.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$15.78 SAR 59.2
-52.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$202 SAR 758
291.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$4,059 SAR 15.2K
202.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.9K
$33.36 SAR 125
158.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$55.5 SAR 208
6.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.9K
$120 SAR 450
15.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.2K
$47.35 SAR 178
108.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$270 SAR 1,013
396.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$131 SAR 492
409.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$484 SAR 1,817
307.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$353 SAR 1,325
192.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$796 SAR 2,986
415.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jizan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$1,609 SAR 6,039
-59.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5
118.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Jizan: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Jizan
$131 80.4% $536
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Jizan
$195 36.4% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Jizan
$205 7.8% $17
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Jizan
$106 38.6% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Jizan
$115 33.1% $57
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Jizan
$47 49.8% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Jizan
$129 126% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $270 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 in Jizan are about 2.5 times higher, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $38 in Jizan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $195 – making Jizan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇦 Jizan
🕒 Local time
04:24 4:24 AM
12:24 12:24 PM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
127,743
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Jizan 12,750 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Jizan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 82% more than Jizan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Jizan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,392 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $270 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Jizan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $928 in Jizan. That makes Jizan about 45% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Jizan?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Jizan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Medellin or in Jizan?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,692 in Medellin and $928 in Jizan. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Jizan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Jizan is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 45% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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