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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $624 in Ruwi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $824 in Ruwi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,023 in Ruwi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 175% more than Ruwi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Ruwi is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,287

$1.98 OMR 0.76

-31.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

$1.97 OMR 0.76

21.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

$1.01 OMR 0.39

68.32%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

$1.22 OMR 0.47

135.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

$2.02 OMR 0.78

392.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

$1.99 OMR 0.77

441.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

$4.87 OMR 1.87

202.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

$0.97 OMR 0.37

321.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

$1.03 OMR 0.40

52.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

$1.03 OMR 0.40

106.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

$1.02 OMR 0.39

116.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

$0.98 OMR 0.38

109.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

$0.99 OMR 0.38

20.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

$1.03 OMR 0.40

12.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

$25.65 OMR 9.88

-47.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.0K

$77.9 OMR 30.00

-61.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

$8.93 OMR 3.44

-30.57%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

$396 OMR 153

167.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

$385 OMR 148

76.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$912 OMR 351

120.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$582 OMR 224

100.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$4,419 OMR 1,701

-84.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $396 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 564% 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 175%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $936 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $624 in Ruwi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 156% 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 $624, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.