🙂A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,322 in Muscat, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,928 in Muscat, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,533 in Muscat, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 22% cheaper than Muscat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Muscat are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Muscat1% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.29OMR 2.04
16.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$25.50OMR 9.81
27.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$7.99OMR 3.07
-8.14%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$4.86OMR 1.87
-64.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.01OMR 0.39
3.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.34OMR 0.13
126.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$12.41OMR 4.78
-86.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$11.66OMR 4.49
-72.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.98OMR 0.76
-46.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.23OMR 0.47
5.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.70OMR 0.66
-17.65%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.42OMR 0.93
-10.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$3.71OMR 1.43
18.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$4.89OMR 1.88
20.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.27OMR 3.18
4.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.51OMR 0.97
-9.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.72OMR 0.66
-35.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.78OMR 0.69
-14.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.14OMR 0.44
18.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.02OMR 0.39
10.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.98OMR 0.38
15.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.09OMR 0.42
-22.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.52OMR 0.20
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$6.28OMR 2.42
-62.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$15.71OMR 6.05
-21.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$4.38OMR 1.68
-72.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$8.02OMR 3.09
-68.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$1.27OMR 0.49
-33.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$63.0OMR 24.25
-35.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$3.16OMR 1.22
-55.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.80OMR 0.31
140.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$10.20OMR 3.92
-24.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.64OMR 0.25
54.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$22.5KOMR 8,652
-19.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$21.5KOMR 8,277
23.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$109OMR 41.77
-25.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$40.41OMR 15.55
-75.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$68.5OMR 26.37
-64.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$48.75OMR 18.76
-48.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$23.23OMR 8.94
-17.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$10.28OMR 3.96
-61.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$190OMR 73.0
60.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$10.0KOMR 3,860
-39.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$51.0OMR 19.62
14.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$39.14OMR 15.06
-17.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$77.6OMR 29.86
29.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$87.6OMR 33.71
22.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$616OMR 237
-22.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$407OMR 157
-7.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,243OMR 478
-32.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$714OMR 275
2.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$2,866OMR 1,103
12.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,593OMR 613
-13.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$1,576OMR 607
-60.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.15
160.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Muscat: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $616 in Muscat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 156% higher in Muscat, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Muscat. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $230 in Muscat – so Medellin 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 Muscat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Muscat cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Muscat is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,983 in Muscat. 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 Medellin, 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 Muscat?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $26.00 in Muscat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Muscat?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,322 in Muscat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Muscat?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Muscat at $1,322. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muscat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Muscat more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Muscat?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muscat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.