Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Matrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Matrah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $223 in Matrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $364 in Matrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $506 in Matrah.

Living in Medellin is roughly 356% more expensive than Matrah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Matrah 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,821

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$2.52 OMR 0.97

-58.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.02 OMR 0.39

26.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.67 OMR 1.03

-50.56%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$4.63 OMR 1.78

-50.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$4.84 OMR 1.86

-10.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.11 OMR 1.97

15.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.65 OMR 2.95

12.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.31 OMR 0.50

71.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.80 OMR 0.69

-40.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.38 OMR 0.91

-36.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.24 OMR 0.48

14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.07 OMR 0.41

9.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.02 OMR 0.39

14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.50 OMR 0.19

78.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$4.04 OMR 1.56

-71.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$15.49 OMR 5.96

-84.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 61.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 92.5M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Matrah: June 9, 2026

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 Matrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Matrah wins on cost – living expenses run 356% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $334 in Matrah 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.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $223 in Matrah – a 356% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $223 in Matrah versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matrah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Matrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Matrah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $223 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Matrah hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Matrah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Matrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 356% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.