🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $1,184 in Khafji.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $1,816 in Khafji.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $2,449 in Khafji.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 14% less than in Khafji, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Khafji11% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.1K
$3.29SAR 12.35
80.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.5K
$54.2SAR 203
-38.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.9K
$5.21SAR 19.53
36.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.96SAR 3.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.63SAR 6.14
-
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,484
$3.01SAR 11.29
-43.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,373
$0.85SAR 3.20
23.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,323
$0.37SAR 1.39
94.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,529
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,425
$1.70SAR 6.38
-37.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,213
$1.46SAR 5.48
-10.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,277
$2.10SAR 7.88
-36.67%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,334
$2.19SAR 8.23
4.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.2K
$6.23SAR 23.36
-29.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 19.0K
$7.17SAR 26.92
-17.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$9.87SAR 37.02
-12.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,541
$2.12SAR 7.94
10.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,544
$1.54SAR 5.77
-28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,721
$1.46SAR 5.48
0.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,437
$1.59SAR 5.95
-13.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,772
$1.22SAR 4.58
-4.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,763
$1.34SAR 5.01
-12.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,904
$1.35SAR 5.08
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,707
$0.55SAR 2.07
52.73%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.26SAR 15.99
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.57SAR 5.88
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.94SAR 7.29
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,486
$8.06SAR 30.23
-71.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,692
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,787
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,700
$1.05SAR 3.95
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 131.3K
$39.42SAR 148
3.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,539
$3.40SAR 12.75
-58.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,157
$1.85SAR 6.94
3.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.2K
$13.43SAR 50.4
-41.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,035
$0.63SAR 2.38
49.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
$22.5KSAR 84.3K
-20.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
$21.2KSAR 79.7K
27.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 267.8K
$118SAR 442
-29.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 31.1K
$38.00SAR 143
-74.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.9K
$63.3SAR 238
-61.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 81.1K
$86.2SAR 323
-70.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 62.2K
$35.90SAR 135
-46.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.1K
$15.50SAR 58.2
-73.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 986.0K
$134SAR 502
129.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.2M
$4,072SAR 15.3K
46.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 192.8K
$67.3SAR 253
-10.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 105.0K
$67.7SAR 254
-51.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 325.1K
$93.2SAR 350
8.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 347.5K
$84.0SAR 315
28.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$444SAR 1,665
7.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$382SAR 1,432
-0.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$845SAR 3,170
-3.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$633SAR 2,374
11.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.33
210.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Khafji: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $444 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $54.0 in Khafji. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $185, with Khafji cheaper for home cooking.
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 Khafji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khafji cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,527 in Medellin and $1,775 in Khafji to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Khafji?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $444 in Khafji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Khafji?
All in, you'll spend $1,018 per month in Medellin versus $1,184 in Khafji – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 4% less than in Khafji. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Khafji?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $1,184 in Khafji, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Khafji. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Khafji more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Khafji, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Khafji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.