Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ruwi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ruwi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $510 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $774 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,039 in Ruwi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 102% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Ruwi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ruwi 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$2.02 OMR 0.78

-48.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.95 OMR 0.75

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$0.98 OMR 0.38

42.86%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.18 OMR 0.45

83.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$2.05 OMR 0.79

114.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$2.05 OMR 0.79

186.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$5.07 OMR 1.95

70.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$0.99 OMR 0.38

130.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.98 OMR 0.38

13.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.02 OMR 0.39

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.98 OMR 0.38

37.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.01 OMR 0.39

11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.02 OMR 0.39

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.99 OMR 0.38

-8.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$25.58 OMR 9.84

-61.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$78.5 OMR 30.21

-69.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$9.03 OMR 3.48

-55.92%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$12.8K OMR 4,910

-52.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$387 OMR 149

23.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$255 OMR 98.1

47.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$900 OMR 346

-6.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$582 OMR 224

25.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$4,481 OMR 1,724

-86.23%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $387 in Ruwi. 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 626% higher in Ruwi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 102%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $765 in Ruwi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $510 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 62% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ruwi, where all-in costs run around $510, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ruwi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ruwi – 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 Ruwi. 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.