😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $832 in Sitrah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,301 in Sitrah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,769 in Sitrah, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 97% more than Sitrah, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Sitrah is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$6.59BHD 2.48
22.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$53.2BHD 20.06
-9.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$7.31BHD 2.76
28.86%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.85BHD 1.83
-39.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.89BHD 0.34
108.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.30BHD 0.11
386.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$6.55BHD 2.47
-50.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$10.19BHD 3.84
-43.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.44BHD 0.54
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.05BHD 0.39
128.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.33BHD 0.88
-27.04%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.33BHD 0.88
24.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$8.74BHD 3.29
15.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$6.39BHD 2.41
56.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$8.69BHD 3.28
63.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.28BHD 0.86
74.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.31BHD 0.87
-31.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.88BHD 0.71
14.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.46BHD 0.55
57.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.05BHD 0.40
90.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.36BHD 0.51
11.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.49BHD 0.56
-19.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.84BHD 0.32
52.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$5.40BHD 2.04
-28.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$18.87BHD 7.11
-25.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$3.58BHD 1.35
-52.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.61BHD 0.98
4.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$5.38BHD 2.03
-75.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$3.50BHD 1.32
-38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$16.23BHD 6.12
-48.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.70BHD 0.26
94.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$37.3KBHD 14.1K
-26.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$20.8KBHD 7,846
75.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$152BHD 57.3
10.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$24.91BHD 9.39
-45.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$34.49BHD 13.00
-17.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$10.51BHD 3.96
-36.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$484BHD 182
66.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$11.0KBHD 4,145
-16.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$50.1BHD 18.90
74.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$57.9BHD 21.82
2.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$86.9BHD 32.74
59.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$89.1BHD 33.59
14.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sitrah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,043BHD 393
-37.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.21
76.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Sitrah: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 59% higher in Sitrah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $53.0 in Sitrah. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $251 in Sitrah – so Sitrah 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 Sitrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sitrah cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,248 in Sitrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sitrah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $53.0 in Sitrah. 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 Sitrah?
Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sitrah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sitrah, where all-in costs run around $832, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Sitrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sitrah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sitrah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Sitrah?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sitrah. 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.