Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shaab Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shaab

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,378 in Shaab, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,332 in Shaab, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,286 in Shaab, rent included.

Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Shaab, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Shaab is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.90 KWD 3.07

-37.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$82.0 KWD 25.40

-60.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.16 KWD 2.84

-19.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 KWD 0.75

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 KWD 1.12

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$5.85 KWD 1.81

-70.60%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.69 KWD 0.21

52.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.38 KWD 0.12

102.63%

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

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-35.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.23 KWD 0.38

5.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.73 KWD 0.54

-19.08%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.01 KWD 0.62

7.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$5.09 KWD 1.58

-13.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.39 KWD 1.98

-7.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$10.32 KWD 3.20

-16.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.41 KWD 0.75

-5.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.92 KWD 0.59

-42.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.79 KWD 0.55

-14.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-9.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.22 KWD 0.38

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.32 KWD 0.41

-14.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.61 KWD 0.50

-47.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.49 KWD 0.15

85.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.86 KWD 0.89

-18.18%

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

$0.83 KWD 0.26

1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$44.40 KWD 13.76

-8.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$3.25 KWD 1.01

-56.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$3.32 KWD 1.03

-42.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$16.46 KWD 5.10

-53.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.34 KWD 0.10

191.18%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$21.5K KWD 6,654

-16.03%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$19.6K KWD 6,088

35.53%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$62.9 KWD 19.49

28.51%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$18.50 KWD 5.73

-46.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$26.11 KWD 8.09

-7.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$93.7 KWD 29.03

-73.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$47.12 KWD 14.60

-59.36%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$11.26 KWD 3.49

-64.65%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$408 KWD 126

-25.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$6,576 KWD 2,038

-7.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$42.81 KWD 13.27

35.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$42.43 KWD 13.15

-24.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$86.4 KWD 26.78

16.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$82.9 KWD 25.70

29.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$784 KWD 243

-39.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$621 KWD 192

-39.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,604 KWD 497

-47.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,277 KWD 396

-42.81%

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

$3,210 KWD 995

-80.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.14

88.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Shaab: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $784 in Shaab. 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 420% higher in Shaab, 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 $82.0 in Shaab. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $179 in Shaab – so Shaab wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Shaab: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shaab is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $2,068 in Shaab. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $82.0 in Shaab. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,378 in Shaab. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Shaab at $1,378. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shaab it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shaab makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.