Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Khafji Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Khafji

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,205 in Khafji.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,838 in Khafji.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,470 in Khafji.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 16% less than in Khafji, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Khafji 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 21.2K
$3.24 SARΒ 12.17
83.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 118.9K
$53.2 SARΒ 200
-37.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.8K
$4.98 SARΒ 18.71
45.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.92 SARΒ 3.45
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57 SARΒ 5.91
-
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,811
$2.98 SARΒ 11.19
-45.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,904
$0.85 SARΒ 3.19
28.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,604
$0.37 SARΒ 1.39
97.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,197
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.5K
-
-
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,742
$1.67 SARΒ 6.25
-37.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,614
$1.41 SARΒ 5.28
-8.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,718
$2.10 SARΒ 7.90
-37.14%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 8,101
$2.25 SARΒ 8.44
0.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.5K
$6.06 SARΒ 22.74
-28.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 21.0K
$7.13 SARΒ 26.78
-17.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.7K
$9.97 SARΒ 37.44
-13.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 8,015
$2.16 SARΒ 8.12
4.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,814
$1.53 SARΒ 5.75
-30.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,438
$1.43 SARΒ 5.39
6.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 5,073
$1.59 SARΒ 5.97
-10.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,173
$1.23 SARΒ 4.60
-4.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,166
$1.39 SARΒ 5.24
-15.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,163
$1.30 SARΒ 4.90
-31.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,215
$0.55 SARΒ 2.06
63.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$4.08 SARΒ 15.34
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.64 SARΒ 6.15
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.93 SARΒ 7.23
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 8,008
$8.14 SARΒ 30.57
-72.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 39.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 4,063
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,483
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,979
$1.05 SARΒ 3.94
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 149.6K
$39.17 SARΒ 147
7.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 5,019
$3.36 SARΒ 12.62
-58.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,779
$1.82 SARΒ 6.84
4.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.6K
$13.45 SARΒ 50.5
-42.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,586
$0.63 SARΒ 2.38
60.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 62.7M
$23.0K SARΒ 86.4K
-23.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.5M
$21.2K SARΒ 79.5K
25.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 298.4K
$115 SARΒ 433
-27.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.7K
$38.64 SARΒ 145
-75.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 86.0K
$62.6 SARΒ 235
-61.49%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 90.3K
$86.2 SARΒ 323
-70.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 68.3K
$36.34 SARΒ 136
-47.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.6K
$15.40 SARΒ 57.8
-73.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$131 SARΒ 492
138.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 21.4M
$4,039 SARΒ 15.2K
48.37%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 207.0K
$67.5 SARΒ 253
-13.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 116.1K
$68.2 SARΒ 256
-52.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 355.3K
$93.4 SARΒ 351
6.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 387.1K
$86.4 SARΒ 324
25.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$447 SARΒ 1,679
7.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$383 SARΒ 1,439
-1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 3.0M
$847 SARΒ 3,180
-1.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.6M
$619 SARΒ 2,323
16.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 10.1M
$2,256 SARΒ 8,471
25.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.4M
$1,363 SARΒ 5,116
-10.24%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Khafji: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $447 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $53.0 in Khafji. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $184, 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,808 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: $482 in Medellin versus $447 in Khafji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Khafji?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $1,205 in Khafji – a 19% 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 7% 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 Medellin or Khafji?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,205 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 19% less than in Khafji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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