😐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 – Medellin23% lower, Sabratha75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$4.72LYD 30.09
30.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$18.23LYD 116
78.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$3.62LYD 23.09
102.76%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.56LYD 3.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.66LYD 4.23
-
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$0.52LYD 3.30
230.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.49LYD 3.13
114.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.10LYD 0.62
670.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.03LYD 6.57
1.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.23LYD 1.47
465.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.19LYD 7.60
17.65%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.44LYD 9.19
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$4.97LYD 31.66
-11.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.28LYD 20.90
79.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$10.12LYD 64.5
-14.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.21LYD 14.05
3.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.34LYD 8.55
-17.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.75LYD 4.79
104.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.52LYD 3.32
159.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.68LYD 4.35
66.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.53LYD 3.37
113.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.39LYD 2.48
117.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.22LYD 1.40
313.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.23LYD 7.86
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.72LYD 4.56
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.66LYD 4.20
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$1.88LYD 11.97
24.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.94LYD 6.01
51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.89LYD 5.66
115.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$4.48LYD 28.53
70.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.03LYD 0.17
3200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$14.0KLYD 89.2K
28.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$16.2KLYD 103.3K
64.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$31.71LYD 202
154.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$7.99LYD 50.9
24.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$23.19LYD 148
4.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.50LYD 28.67
-11.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$53.2LYD 339
473.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$913LYD 5,813
563.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$21.31LYD 136
172.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$35.64LYD 227
-9.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$50.9LYD 324
98.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$56.8LYD 362
89.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$282LYD 1,794
1041.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$190LYD 1,210
622.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sabratha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$189LYD 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.