😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,056 in Mangaf, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,334 in Mangaf, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,611 in Mangaf, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 55% more than Mangaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Mangaf is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$6.49KWD 1.99
23.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$65.5KWD 20.08
-26.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$6.34KWD 1.94
48.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.31KWD 1.02
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.95KWD 1.52
-
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.82KWD 1.48
-39.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.33KWD 0.10
463.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.35KWD 0.11
317.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.66KWD 0.51
-13.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.47KWD 0.45
63.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.99KWD 0.61
-14.57%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.14KWD 0.66
35.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$4.51KWD 1.38
123.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$6.57KWD 2.02
51.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$10.14KWD 3.11
40.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.54KWD 0.78
56.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.94KWD 0.60
-18.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.88KWD 0.58
14.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.48KWD 0.45
55.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.31KWD 0.40
52.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.48KWD 0.45
2.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$2.34KWD 0.72
-48.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.51KWD 0.16
150.98%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.26KWD 1.00
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06KWD 0.32
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44KWD 0.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$2.67KWD 0.82
43.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$4.72KWD 1.45
-72.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$3.18KWD 0.97
-31.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$16.46KWD 5.05
-49.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.33KWD 0.10
312.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$21.4KKWD 6,568
28.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$20.2KKWD 6,187
81.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$67.2KWD 20.59
151.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$22.78KWD 6.98
-40.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$30.64KWD 9.40
-7.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$47.70KWD 14.62
-4.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$11.22KWD 3.44
-40.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$302KWD 92.7
165.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$9,288KWD 2,848
-1.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$37.42KWD 11.47
133.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$39.54KWD 12.12
50.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$97.1KWD 29.78
43.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$87.4KWD 26.80
16.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$243KWD 74.6
340.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$415KWD 127
57.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mangaf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.53
67.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mangaf: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $243 in Mangaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $65.0 in Mangaf. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $186 in Mangaf – so Mangaf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Mangaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mangaf cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,585 in Mangaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mangaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Mangaf?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $65.0 in Mangaf. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Mangaf?
Groceries cost about 61% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Mangaf?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mangaf, where all-in costs run around $1,056, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Mangaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mangaf more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mangaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Mangaf?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mangaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.