Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karbala Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Karbala

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 24.2% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 46% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 35.2% more expensive than Karbala without rent, and 58.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$5.01 IQD 6,556
24.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$15.61 IQD 20.4K
107.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$5.34 IQD 6,988
38.39%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.58 IQD 2,071
8.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.36 IQD 476
205.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.3 IQD 395
143.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.93 IQD 2,521
-13.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.83 IQD 3,706
13.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.19 IQD 1,562
-8.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$0.7 IQD 914
77.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.43 IQD 1,867
-6.99%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$1.75 IQD 2,290
26.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$5.2 IQD 6,811
-12.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$4.85 IQD 6,348
17.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$9.7 IQD 12.7K
-11.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$0.97 IQD 1,265
132.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.03 IQD 1,346
3.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$0.91 IQD 1,187
65.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$0.66 IQD 863
115.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$0.63 IQD 821
76.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$0.54 IQD 712
118.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.6 IQD 792
48.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.6 IQD 783
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.94 IQD 2,537
21.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.19 IQD 17.3K
-29.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.02 IQD 1,334
15.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.19 IQD 2,869
13.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.37 IQD 482
124.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$30.86 IQD 40.4K
35.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.27 IQD 2,966
-37.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.5 IQD 1,958
30.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$7.68 IQD 10K
2.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.48 IQD 634
112.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$11.4K IQD 14.9M
54.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$14.5K IQD 19M
80.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$70.3 IQD 92K
17.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$24.7 IQD 32.3K
-61.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$48.37 IQD 63.3K
-51.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$22.76 IQD 29.8K
12.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$16.95 IQD 22.2K
12.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$8.9 IQD 11.7K
-55.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$126 IQD 165.2K
141.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$785 IQD 1M
654.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
232.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$14.06 IQD 18.4K
124.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$30.32 IQD 39.7K
240.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$32.09 IQD 42K
229.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$254 IQD 332K
92.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$148 IQD 193.2K
156.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$345 IQD 452.1K
139.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$242 IQD 317.3K
200.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,155 IQD 1.5M
89.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$339 IQD 443.7K
352.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Karbala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$504 IQD 659.7K
9.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.67
136.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Karbala: October 29, 2025

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