Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sabratha Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sabratha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $329 in Sabratha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $545 in Sabratha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $761 in Sabratha, rent included.

Medellin costs about 213% more than Sabratha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Sabratha are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sabratha 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$4.72 LYD 30.09
30.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$18.23 LYD 116
78.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$3.62 LYD 23.09
102.76%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.56 LYD 3.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.66 LYD 4.23
-
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$0.52 LYD 3.30
230.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.49 LYD 3.13
114.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.10 LYD 0.62
670.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.03 LYD 6.57
1.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.23 LYD 1.47
465.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.19 LYD 7.60
17.65%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.44 LYD 9.19
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$4.97 LYD 31.66
-11.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.28 LYD 20.90
79.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$10.12 LYD 64.5
-14.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.21 LYD 14.05
3.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.34 LYD 8.55
-17.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$0.75 LYD 4.79
104.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.52 LYD 3.32
159.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.68 LYD 4.35
66.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.53 LYD 3.37
113.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.39 LYD 2.48
117.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.22 LYD 1.40
313.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.23 LYD 7.86
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 LYD 4.56
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.66 LYD 4.20
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$1.88 LYD 11.97
24.47%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
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
$0.94 LYD 6.01
51.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.89 LYD 5.66
115.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$4.48 LYD 28.53
70.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.03 LYD 0.17
3200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$14.0K LYD 89.2K
28.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$16.2K LYD 103.3K
64.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$31.71 LYD 202
154.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$7.99 LYD 50.9
24.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$23.19 LYD 148
4.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
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
$4.50 LYD 28.67
-11.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$53.2 LYD 339
473.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$913 LYD 5,813
563.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$21.31 LYD 136
172.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$35.64 LYD 227
-9.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$50.9 LYD 324
98.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$56.8 LYD 362
89.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$282 LYD 1,794
1041.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$190 LYD 1,210
622.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$189 LYD 1,202
226.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
17.5
-23.26%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sabratha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 227% higher in Medellin, 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 $18.00 in Sabratha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $117 – making Sabratha 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 Sabratha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sabratha cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 213%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $493 in Sabratha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sabratha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Sabratha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Sabratha?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sabratha?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabratha, where all-in costs run around $329, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Sabratha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sabratha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sabratha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sabratha. 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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