πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $952 in Khamis Mushayt.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,562 in Khamis Mushayt.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,172 in Khamis Mushayt.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 6% more expensive than Khamis Mushayt, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Khamis Mushayt29% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$6.83SARΒ 25.65
-12.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$42.60SARΒ 160
-22.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$6.94SARΒ 26.06
2.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.76SARΒ 6.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.78SARΒ 6.70
-
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$5.35SARΒ 20.09
-68.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.75SARΒ 2.82
46.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.26SARΒ 0.97
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
-
-
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.75SARΒ 6.56
-37.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.35SARΒ 1.32
260.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.92SARΒ 7.21
-28.13%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$4.37SARΒ 16.39
-49.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$6.63SARΒ 24.87
-33.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$7.67SARΒ 28.78
-26.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$15.41SARΒ 57.8
-42.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$2.24SARΒ 8.40
4.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.43SARΒ 5.38
-25.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.05SARΒ 3.93
42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$1.97SARΒ 7.40
-29.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.70SARΒ 6.40
-32.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$1.38SARΒ 5.20
-15.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.25SARΒ 4.67
-28.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.65SARΒ 2.43
29.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.11SARΒ 11.68
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.69SARΒ 6.35
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.10SARΒ 7.87
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$7.83SARΒ 29.37
-70.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$1.10SARΒ 4.13
-21.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$40.19SARΒ 151
3.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$2.65SARΒ 9.93
-44.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$2.02SARΒ 7.59
-2.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$13.45SARΒ 50.5
-42.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$0.63SARΒ 2.37
50.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$26.5KSARΒ 99.5K
-31.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$22.4KSARΒ 84.1K
18.15%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$106SARΒ 399
-22.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$34.38SARΒ 129
-72.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$71.5SARΒ 268
-66.13%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$89.5SARΒ 336
-71.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$35.37SARΒ 133
-46.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$15.61SARΒ 58.6
-74.82%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$346SARΒ 1,300
-10.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$7,039SARΒ 26.4K
-15.25%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$58.8SARΒ 221
-0.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$60.7SARΒ 228
-46.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$77.8SARΒ 292
31.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$82.3SARΒ 309
31.72%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$159SARΒ 597
199.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$108SARΒ 404
251.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$406SARΒ 1,523
106.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$282SARΒ 1,059
156.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,505SARΒ 9,402
11.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,144SARΒ 4,294
5.88%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$1,619SARΒ 6,078
-68.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.42
203.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Khamis Mushayt: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $159 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Khamis Mushayt pays 216% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $43.00 in Khamis Mushayt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $205 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 β living expenses run 6% 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 Khamis Mushayt?
On paper, Khamis Mushayt earns 216% less. 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 vs Khamis Mushayt?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $159 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Khamis Mushayt?
A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt runs roughly 3% 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 Khamis Mushayt?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $346 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 Khamis Mushayt?
At $952 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,013 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 β similar infrastructure at $952 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 β expenses run 6% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.