Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Muscat

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Muscat: $1,614 and $1,556 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Muscat
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,556
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Muscat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Muscat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $1,556 in Muscat, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Muscat $1,556

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $2,299 in Muscat, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Muscat $2,299

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $3,042 in Muscat, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Muscat $3,042

Medellin costs about 4% more than Muscat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Medellin and Muscat sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Muscat by 15%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$5.33 OMR 2.05
48.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$39.12 OMR 15.06
17.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$7.76 OMR 2.99
22.42%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$4.93 OMR 1.90
-36.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$0.85 OMR 0.33
115.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.27 OMR 0.10
411.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$12.87 OMR 4.95
-76.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$13.07 OMR 5.03
-57.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$2.31 OMR 0.89
-37.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$1.24 OMR 0.48
90.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.87 OMR 0.72
-10.16%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$3.02 OMR 1.16
-5.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$7.23 OMR 2.78
40.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$6.91 OMR 2.66
37.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$10.57 OMR 4.07
32.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$3.51 OMR 1.35
15.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$2.01 OMR 0.77
-25.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.33 OMR 0.90
-6.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$1.26 OMR 0.49
83.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.16 OMR 0.44
66.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.28 OMR 0.49
28.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.79 OMR 0.69
-36.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.68 OMR 0.26
83.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$6.62 OMR 2.55
-39.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$15.83 OMR 6.09
-15.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$6.03 OMR 2.32
-71.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$10.33 OMR 3.98
-77.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$1.33 OMR 0.51
-9.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$77.9 OMR 30.00
-1.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$3.18 OMR 1.23
-58.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$2.62 OMR 1.01
-18.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$7.83 OMR 3.01
8.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$0.60 OMR 0.23
116.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$25.9K OMR 9,986
7.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$22.4K OMR 8,624
58.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$176 OMR 67.9
-2.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$28.30 OMR 10.90
-52.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$70.9 OMR 27.28
-59.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$62.7 OMR 24.14
-27.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$29.94 OMR 11.53
-43.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$10.52 OMR 4.05
-40.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$283 OMR 109
171.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$10.6K OMR 4,070
-14.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$56.6 OMR 21.79
52.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$43.33 OMR 16.68
31.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$91.1 OMR 35.08
49.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$86.4 OMR 33.28
13.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$674 OMR 260
56.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$461 OMR 177
33.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,324 OMR 510
42.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$813 OMR 313
25.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$2,871 OMR 1,105
41.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$1,614 OMR 621
4.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Muscat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$1,650 OMR 635
-60.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.25
108.38%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Muscat: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Muscat
$461 25.2% $155
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Muscat
$292 0.9% $2.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Muscat
$275 28.6% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Muscat
$125 26.6% $45
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Muscat
$220 30.7% $52
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Muscat
$100 6.7% $6.2
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Muscat
$84 44.9% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $674 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 153% higher in Muscat, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Muscat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $292 – making Muscat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇴🇲 Muscat
🕒 Local time
04:17 4:17 AM
13:17 1:17 PM
9 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
1,090,797 Capital
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

OMR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Muscat 14,020 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Muscat

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 – Medellin is pricier by about 4%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $2,334 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 Muscat, 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 $46.00 in Medellin and $39.00 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 $1,614 in Medellin and $1,556 in Muscat. That's a gap of about 4%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Muscat?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Muscat, where all-in costs run around $1,556, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Muscat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Muscat more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Muscat – 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 Muscat. 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.

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