😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $966 in Khamis Mushayt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,565 in Khamis Mushayt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $2,163 in Khamis Mushayt.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 7% more expensive than in Khamis Mushayt, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Khamis Mushayt28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$6.57SAR 24.68
-6.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$41.89SAR 157
-22.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.71SAR 25.19
9.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.75SAR 6.57
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81SAR 6.81
-
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$5.23SAR 19.64
-67.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.76SAR 2.86
38.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.28SAR 1.06
175.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.71SAR 6.42
-38.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.36SAR 1.35
261.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.84SAR 6.91
-23.91%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$4.44SAR 16.66
-51.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.79SAR 25.48
-35.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$7.66SAR 28.75
-23.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$15.42SAR 57.9
-43.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.20SAR 8.25
3.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.49SAR 5.58
-25.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.08SAR 4.06
41.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$2.02SAR 7.57
-33.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.71SAR 6.43
-33.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.44SAR 5.39
-21.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.19SAR 4.47
-28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.70SAR 2.61
30.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.41SAR 9.05
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71SAR 6.44
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.02SAR 7.57
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$8.10SAR 30.41
-71.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$1.04SAR 3.91
-19.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$40.69SAR 153
-0.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$2.67SAR 10.03
-46.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$2.02SAR 7.58
-4.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$13.12SAR 49.26
-41.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.63SAR 2.38
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$26.7KSAR 100.3K
-32.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$22.6KSAR 84.9K
17.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$106SAR 398
-23.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$33.53SAR 126
-70.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$71.3SAR 268
-66.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$87.9SAR 330
-71.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$35.17SAR 132
-45.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$15.36SAR 57.7
-74.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$348SAR 1,308
-12.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$6,953SAR 26.1K
-12.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$60.0SAR 225
-3.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$61.1SAR 230
-47.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$79.7SAR 299
26.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$83.3SAR 313
29.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$157SAR 591
202.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$105SAR 396
256.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$402SAR 1,509
110.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$281SAR 1,053
160.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$2,607SAR 9,789
23.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,448SAR 5,438
-5.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$1,603SAR 6,019
-61.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.42
203.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Khamis Mushayt: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $157 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Khamis Mushayt pays 160% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $42.00 in Khamis Mushayt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $206 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Khamis Mushayt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Khamis Mushayt?
Khamis Mushayt wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khamis Mushayt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Khamis Mushayt?
On paper, salaries run 160% lower in Khamis Mushayt. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Khamis Mushayt?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $157 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Khamis Mushayt?
A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt runs roughly 0% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Khamis Mushayt?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $348 in Khamis Mushayt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Khamis Mushayt?
At $966 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khamis Mushayt but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Khamis Mushayt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Khamis Mushayt?
Both work as nomad bases, but Khamis Mushayt delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $966 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Khamis Mushayt hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Khamis Mushayt?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Khamis Mushayt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Khamis Mushayt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.