Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nizwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nizwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $582 in Nizwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $787 in Nizwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $993 in Nizwa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 74% more than Nizwa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nizwa are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Nizwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$2.54 OMR 0.98

135.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

$26.21 OMR 10.09

25.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

$3.84 OMR 1.48

84.64%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

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

$1.10 COP 3,910

$0.87 OMR 0.33

26.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$0.27 OMR 0.10

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

$1.31 OMR 0.51

-16.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

$1.77 OMR 0.68

-22.03%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

$2.13 OMR 0.82

2.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$3.83 OMR 1.47

14.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

$8.02 OMR 3.09

-29.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

$2.06 OMR 0.79

13.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$1.28 OMR 0.49

-17.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

$1.31 OMR 0.50

14.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

$1.32 OMR 0.51

4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

$1.05 OMR 0.41

9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

$1.06 OMR 0.41

9.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

$0.50 OMR 0.19

78.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

$0.82 OMR 0.31

2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$0.59 OMR 0.23

61.02%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

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

$82.3 COP 292.7K

$130 OMR 49.97

-36.62%

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

$9.50 COP 33.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$64.1 OMR 24.68

-62.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$265 OMR 102

79.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$204 OMR 78.6

85.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$389 OMR 150

115.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$264 OMR 102

173.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$1,309 OMR 504

-60.90%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nizwa: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $265 in Nizwa. 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 Nizwa, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Nizwa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $140 – making Nizwa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Nizwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $873 in Nizwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nizwa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $26.00 in Nizwa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nizwa, where all-in costs run around $582, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Nizwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nizwa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Nizwa. 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.