πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,205 in Khafji.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,838 in Khafji.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,470 in Khafji.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 16% less than in Khafji, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Khafji10% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.2K
$3.24SARΒ 12.17
83.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 118.9K
$53.2SARΒ 200
-37.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.8K
$4.98SARΒ 18.71
45.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.92SARΒ 3.45
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57SARΒ 5.91
-
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,811
$2.98SARΒ 11.19
-45.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,904
$0.85SARΒ 3.19
28.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,604
$0.37SARΒ 1.39
97.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,197
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.5K
-
-
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,742
$1.67SARΒ 6.25
-37.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,614
$1.41SARΒ 5.28
-8.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,718
$2.10SARΒ 7.90
-37.14%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,101
$2.25SARΒ 8.44
0.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.5K
$6.06SARΒ 22.74
-28.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 21.0K
$7.13SARΒ 26.78
-17.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.7K
$9.97SARΒ 37.44
-13.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 8,015
$2.16SARΒ 8.12
4.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,814
$1.53SARΒ 5.75
-30.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,438
$1.43SARΒ 5.39
6.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,073
$1.59SARΒ 5.97
-10.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,173
$1.23SARΒ 4.60
-4.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,166
$1.39SARΒ 5.24
-15.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,163
$1.30SARΒ 4.90
-31.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,215
$0.55SARΒ 2.06
63.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.08SARΒ 15.34
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.64SARΒ 6.15
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.93SARΒ 7.23
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 8,008
$8.14SARΒ 30.57
-72.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.4K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,063
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,483
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,979
$1.05SARΒ 3.94
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 149.6K
$39.17SARΒ 147
7.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 5,019
$3.36SARΒ 12.62
-58.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,779
$1.82SARΒ 6.84
4.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.6K
$13.45SARΒ 50.5
-42.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,586
$0.63SARΒ 2.38
60.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 62.7M
$23.0KSARΒ 86.4K
-23.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.5M
$21.2KSARΒ 79.5K
25.11%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 298.4K
$115SARΒ 433
-27.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.7K
$38.64SARΒ 145
-75.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 86.0K
$62.6SARΒ 235
-61.49%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 90.3K
$86.2SARΒ 323
-70.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 68.3K
$36.34SARΒ 136
-47.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.6K
$15.40SARΒ 57.8
-73.38%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$131SARΒ 492
138.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.4M
$4,039SARΒ 15.2K
48.37%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 207.0K
$67.5SARΒ 253
-13.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 116.1K
$68.2SARΒ 256
-52.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 355.3K
$93.4SARΒ 351
6.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 387.1K
$86.4SARΒ 324
25.62%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$447SARΒ 1,679
7.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$383SARΒ 1,439
-1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$847SARΒ 3,180
-1.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$619SARΒ 2,323
16.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.1M
$2,256SARΒ 8,471
25.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.4M
$1,363SARΒ 5,116
-10.24%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.33
210.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Khafji: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π 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.
πDining 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 β 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 β expenses run 19% less than in Khafji. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.